UCSI University second group of Work-Based Learning(WBL)students posing for group photo before the interview session with Grand Margherita Hotel and Riverside Majestic Hotel for Work-Based Learning(WBL) training at their hotels.

Kuching, 12 January 2012 - Since the institution's appointment by the Prime Minister as leader to uplift both quantity and quality of manpower in the tourism and hospitality in November 2010, UCSI University has been actively engaging its key industry partners to jointly design unparalleled education experience for its students.  The university thrives on the principle of a Praxis University, where almost all of their lecturers are active industry practitioners.  Just in 2011, UCSI University in its first year leading the EPP 10 projects, has also engaged many key industries such as Grand Margherita Hotel, Riverside Majestic Hotel, Pullman Hotel, BCCK and Sarawak Cultural Village as education partners in achieving many significant milestones for this EPP 10 project.  "Choosing a career in tourism and hospitality industry is no longer perceived as an alternative choice as youngsters these days are constantly looking out for fun and challenges in their career journey.  UCSI University has developed a set of curriculum that aims at bridging the gaps between industry expectations and academic excellence.  "We are able to make this opportunity in hospitality and tourism an "affordable, attractive, assured and accessible" choice to all students and existing work force in the industry," according to the EPP 10 IMT (Independent Management Team) Chairman, Assoc Prof Dr Wong Kong Yew who is also the Vice President of Industry and Strategic Projects of UCSI University. 

In conjunction to this national initiative, the university has also led a special task force formed among three ministries, the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Human Resources and Ministry of Higher Education, called the Malaysia Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (MyCenTHE).  This national taskforce was launched jointly by the three ministers in August 2011 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS6PdbPpiXM). 

In May 2011, UCSI University at Sarawak Campus has introduced the first work-based learning mode diploma programme in hotel Management, an educational approach that completely unique and different from the conventional approach where students will now find that they could earn and work while studying and they no longer feel intimidated by the real working world when they graduate from their course of studies.  UCSI University, together with many reputable industry partners and policy makers in the IMT, has since, embarked on perfecting the work-based learning approach of education experience with UCSI University and academic partners.  This WBL mode of learning removes most of the pain points faced by the conventional mode of study where it was solely a university's job to train their graduates.  Now, the university, future employers and the students are all in a learning community, where the students could now study while working with allowances paid by their future employers that would offer the students job while training their own future employees.

For working adults, students and parents who wish to find out more about this WBL programme offered by UCSI University, you are invited to visit the university's Open Days this coming weekend, at its Sarawak Campus located at Jalan Tun Jugah in Kuching. The university doors will be open from 10am to 5pm on both days.  You will also find out more information on the university's Centre of Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality and how learning would be different from conventional programmes.

The special two day's will showcase the university's CenTHE initiatives and project milestones achieved so far and visitors are welcomed to tour the campus to view all the uniquely designed learning and training facilities available in the campus and the new programmes lined up for 2012 academic year.

Form 5 and Form 6 students are also invited to come along to the Open Day to find out more on what the university can offer.

UCSI University, Sarawak Campus houses the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management (FHTM) and Pre-U Centre.  FHTM provides niche programmes to train all its students in the many areas of hospitality and tourism, as well as to hone their management skills and flair for teamwork.  The Pre-U Centre has been consistently remains as the leading GCE A Levels provider and also offering UCSI University's foundation programmes.  For more information on courses available at Sarawak Campus, please browse www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my.

To book seats for the demonstrations, or to make an appointment with any of the course counsellors at UCSI University, Sarawak Campus, call +6082-455 255 or email [email protected].