Graduates have the world at their feet

THE largest class yet at Shannon College of Hotel Management graduated last week.
At the graduation ceremony, Philip Smyth, director of the Shannon College of Hotel Management, said the experience of the college shows the Irish third-level sector should consider the world its oyster when it comes to student recruitment.
“Over 45% of our students are from outside Ireland, some from as far afield as China and India, which are huge potential markets for international education.  We have a really good international reputation and that helps but we have had to get out, roll up our sleeves and sell ourselves very hard in these markets because that’s what required.
“We do have many advantages because of the standard of education we provide, the fact that we are an English-speaking nation, because Ireland is less expensive now to live in than what it was, especially for students and because we are smart in how we target them.
“But none of those qualities are exclusive to us.  Every other third-level institution can do likewise, whether it is for engineering, technology, agri-food courses or whatever.  The rules are the same for all. It’s not easy but with strategic targeting of key markets, combined with as much perspiration as inspiration, significant gains can be made in these markets,” Mr Smyth said.
This year, the first batch of students from one of the world’s most exotic holiday destination, the Seychelles, graduated from the college, following a groundbreaking deal with the country’s government to exclusively educate its hoteliers of the future.
The 13 Seychellois students were among 91 graduates from 13 countries, including a large portion from China and India, as well as European countries such as Germany, Norway, Russia, Estonia and the Netherlands. The Irish graduates came from Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.
Shannon College of Hotel Management was founded in 1951 and is a recognised college of the National University of Ireland offering bachelors business degrees in international hotel management. Graduates receive the only degree in hotel management awarded by the National University of Ireland. Graduates are also recognised by the Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the International Hotel and Restaurant Association and the Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI). Some of the college’s alumni include Gerard Lawless, executive chairman of the Jumeriah Group, which operates the internationally acclaimed Burj Al Arab in Dubai, recognised as the world’s only seven-star hotel.
When the college celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, Minister of State Jan O’Sullivan paid tribute to the standard of education it has offered.
“Education is not just about securing a job, it’s fundamentally about equipping students with the skills to face and overcome the many challenges they will face over the course of their career and this is where Shannon has really excelled. Not only are graduates sought as soon as they enter the labour market but the alumni have gone around the world.”