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Social Responsibility Project
7
SHTM
to Support Vietnamese School
for Disadvantaged Youth
Following its commitment to developing tourism and
hospitality in Kaiping, the SHTM recently accepted
an invitation from the Simon Charitable Foundation
and the Robert Burns Hotel Group to support a social
responsibility project in Vietnam. The project will centre
on the Hospitality School of Ho Chi Minh City (HSH),
a nonprofit undertaking of the Vietnamese Department of
Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
The HSH provides vocational training to disadvantaged
youth and street children in Vietnam’s second largest city,
offering training programmes that lead to employment
within the hospitality and catering businesses. Students
are currently trained to be pastry chefs and Western chefs,
and in the various elements of table service. With a present
intake of 120 students, the HSH can accommodate up to
200 and intends to introduce a Housekeeping Training
Programme in the near future.
Professor Kaye Chon, Dr David Jones and Dr Tony Tse with students at the
Hospitality School of Ho Chi Minh City
With the aim of helping to enhance the Vietnamese school’s
overall training and education capabilities, the SHTM will
offer advice related to the new programme. Preparing the
way for this collaboration, SHTM Director, Professor
Kaye Chon, Programme Director (Industry Partnerships),
Dr Tony Tse, and Associate Professor, Dr David Jones
visited Ho Chi Minh City from 8 to 10 June. They met
HSH Director, Mr Ta Vang Duc and the school’s teachers,
inspecting the facilities and familiarising themselves with
its programmes.
Specific support to be offered by the SHTM will include
advice on the design of model hotel guest rooms and
curriculum development. Training will also be provided
for HSH teachers so they can gain experience of industry
best practices to pass on to their students.
Gaining an overview of the School
The SHTM’s selection for this important project is
testament to its internationally recognised programmes
and high quality staff members. The School looks forward
to working with the HSH in its cultivation of deserving
young talents for the hospitality industry in Vietnam. The
project should benefit the industry in general, and also help
raise the overall standard in Ho Chi Minh City.
School of Hotel and Tourism Management