Vol 6 Issue 1, February 2006 - School of Hotel & Tourism ...

Student Activities27disadvantage, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals’ Fong ShuChuen District Elderly Community Centre, HansAnderson Club, which cares for primary-schoolchildren, and Cheshire Home for extended care forpersons with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses.“Students learned that hospitality is a socially selectivetrait by actually performing a caring-based project forothers,” explains Dr Koppel. “These first-year studentsalso learned to communicate sensitively with others ofa different age group. The programme outcomes forthis new class were reached when the studentsexperienced contacting, planning and implementing aproject that the community organisation leaders feltwas necessary and significant for the well being of theindividuals being served. In one particular project ourstudents were partners in a project with a local hotelorganisation.”While the first three organisations listed above werebasically community service projects, the CheshireHome project went beyond this worthy activity. Thisparticular project is called service-learning. That isbecause students complete an assignment of individualreflection for their efforts. It was a shared experiencewith staff from local Marriott hotels. “The studentsparticipated in and led planning meetings at theRenaissance Harbour View Hotel, with several HumanResource managers present. In addition, GeneralManager Michael Nisky of the JW Marriott was mostaccommodating in the partnership with our students,”he says. The students managed an important section ofthe project, including casting for the entertainment ofthe Christmas party – they recruited Prof Koppel toplay the role of Santa Claus!Mr Nisky says: “The party is annual event for the hotel,and this time we worked closely with SHTM interns aswell as the students. Through our Spirit to Serveprogramme we encourage our associates to getinvolved in community projects as volunteersthroughout the year. Through their involvement I hopethe students can understand that to be successful inbusiness people and organisations need to be wellrounded, and this type of activity can help achieve thisgoal. And don't forget that hospitality is the nature ofour business – here we get the opportunity to giveback to the community.”On ShowYear 3 and 4 students organised anexhibition titled “HKAPM”, aboutdifferent scenes in Hong Kongduring a single day, in December. Itwas part of the assessment for theExhibition Management course. Thecourse instructor, Mr Kenith Leung,wanted the students to apply whatthey have learned in the classroomin a real situation.“Six groups of students organisedthe exhibition, which was held atPolyU,” says Mr Leung. “Fromplanning to content design, they needed to takedifferent responsibilities. During the process, theylearned how to compromise with different ideas andmanage time properly. The overall performance of theexhibition was very satisfactory. The students enjoyedthe new practical assessment method. They said thatthis assessment would help them to remember thedevelopment process effectively and could be appliedto their future career.”Kenith Leung and Exhibition Management coursestudents at their exhibition.Students of this course also weregiven the opportunity to participate in a“Sustainable Development Project” of the Communityof Development Services of St James’ Settlementbetween October to November last year. The“Wanchai Livelihood Museum” forms an importantpart of the project and students of this course servedas volunteer helpers.School of Hotel and Tourism Management