[pramodusnair]

Hospitality school a boost to district’s higher education dreams
Monday January 29 2007 11:24 IST

KOZHIKODE: The proposed International Hospitality Management Institute will help Kozhikode in its endeavor to emerge as a hub of higher education. The hospitality school will be the latest to join IIM, NIT and School of Mathematics here.

State Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan announced in New Delhi last week that the Centre has given the green signal for establishing the institute, first of its kind in Kerala. Tourism Department had submitted to the Union Tourism Ministry, a preliminary project report on the institute.

Department sources told this website's newspaper that a rough estimate shows the institute will require an investment of Rs 40 crore. The property owned by the defunct public sector Kerala Soaps and Oils Limited, Kozhikode, is under consideration for housing the institute.

Sources said the institute, which will require 5 acre at the initial stage, will be a joint venture with public-private participation. The government plans to rope in leading players in the tourism and hotel industry to ensure better industry-institute interaction, a key factor in any management education.

Sources said the institute will conduct high end courses in hospitality management. Presence of an IIM in Kozhikode will be another advantage for the institute.

“Though Kozhikode is not a major tourism hub in South India, we are confident of winning support from the industry and external faculty. An active industry participation will make training and placement of students more effective,” sources said.

Discussions with leading national and international hospitality players on investment and academic matters will begin only after the detailed project report, to be prepared by a consultant, is ready.

The government plans to retain 51 pc stake in the institute, which will be dedicated for running high-end programmes and academic activities, including consultancy. It will have courses in all branches of tourism and hospitality industry.

Models of similar institutes in India and abroad will be studied, before shaping the structure of the institute. National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Hyderabad, is a prominent institute in this sector.