Carnegie hosts hospitality workshop

Apr 30, 2014 News

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Under the theme, “Creating the Winning Team,’ the administration of the 80-year-old Carnegie School of Home Economics yesterday hosted a workshop for persons within the Tourism and Hospitality sector.
The 26 participants were drawn from various city hotels that are members of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG).
According to Principal of the institution, Penelope Harris, the workshop came as a result of recognizing the need to fill the skill gaps in the local Tourism and Hospitality Sector.

“We receive calls weekly in the office from the business community and even private individuals who are seeking trained personnel or training for their staff,” Harris pointed out.
The forum, held at the Regency Suites on Brickdam, Georgetown, targeted areas like Front Desk Operations, House Keeping, Resort Management and Hospitality Management, along with Health and Social Care.
These courses are being spearheaded by International Etiquette Trainer, Guyana-born Phillipa Morrish.
She is a certified Social Protocol Consultant as well as the founder of Etiquette Training International, New York. Morrish, who studied in Guyana, Aruba, New York and London, has travelled extensively to teach courses in Tourism and Hospitality.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assistant Chief Education Officer (Technical), Patrick Chinedu commended members of the Board of Directors for the initiative, noting that it fits into the Ministry of Education’s holistic plan for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which responds to the needs of the workforce in a 21st Century Guyanese economy.
Additionally, Chinedu said, “the GTI (Government Technical Institute)’s Board of Governors is also discussing the inevitable move of the GTI becoming a full-pledged polytechnic, where Associate Degrees or equivalent certificates will be awarded.”
The Ministry of Education official told the gathering of trainees that the post-graduation seminars held by the Carnegie School of Home Economics, have become part of the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), which will lead to the award of Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).
Chinedu said that in 2013, the council for TVET concluded the first Labour Market Information Survey. This, he said, is a tool which will provide intelligence on the labour markets. It can be used by institutions for strategic skills planning and delivery.
He noted that these initiatives have opened doors for a more serious engagement and dialogue between training providers and employers.
“Often times, the employers complain of not being provided with the relevant skills that match their labour force. The need for constant dialogue, training and re-training of employers cannot be over emphasized. It is unfortunate, however, that some of our employers have not bought into, or understood the benefits to ensure that their employees are equipped with the relevant and updated skills,” Chinedu said.
He said that the Ministry of Education intends to change this by “forcefully” embarking on a campaign of industry-training provider linkages.
“The country’s economic competitiveness, I believe, does not any longer, hinge much on ‘what to do’ as it is now on ‘how to do it’ and ‘how best to do it,’ with emphasis on both economics and environment.”
Yesterday’s workshop is said to be the first of many to be spearheaded by the Carnegie School of Home Economics. The institution is also looking to launch a discussion forum, which has already been branded as “Launch-talk.”
“All of these show how Carnegie, being cognizant of the socio-economic development of Guyana, has adjusted from its humble beginnings to playing a major role in the Hospitality and Tourism industry in Guyana,” Chinedu said.
In early 2013, Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali had announced that the relevant entities were in the process of putting together recommendations on the guiding principles of a rating system for local Hotels and Restaurants.
Ali had said that such a system is expected to enhance the quality of services offered by existing and upcoming hospitality facilities in Guyana, thus improving the country’s entire tourism product.
He explained that if the country wants to see an increase in the arrival of tourists, things need to be of a certain standard. This he said, would not only help visitors in choosing places for accommodation, meals, entertainment etc, but also prompt such places to raise their standards, allowing for a healthy competition, which will ultimately lead to better quality.
“Considerable emphasis will be placed on regularizing the service providers in this sector, continuing what the Ministry began in 2012. A special committee of both public and private sector representatives was formed to specifically consult service providers towards establishing standards,” the Minister said.

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