Feature
NHTTI: Excellence in Hospitality Education
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute-NHTTI is the number one institute in Hospitality Education in Bangladesh. It has held the leading position since 1974, when an idea of this kind was deemed impossible in the backdrop of a newborn country like ours. Still NHTTI was chosen best by the juvenile society. The national and international employers prefer NHTTI. Its certificate impresses visa officers while issuing visas for higher studies or jobs in different countries. Statistics claim, in every hospitality business center round the world even if there is one Bangladeshi, he is a product of NHTTI. What great news for Bangladesh! NHTTI could be the main target of the Bangladesh Government to take it up to international level, not only to develop hospitality crafts but also to present Bangladesh with an affluent image. Its future is very competitive in South East Asia if Government takes the right steps.
 Every year more than 1000 students from all parts of Bangladesh study at NHTTI. Sometimes Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada and Australia take necessary courses from NHTTI during their long vacation in Bangladesh. They are advised by the employer to have a course from National Tourism Organization-NTO. The number of hotel management schools in Bangladesh is on the rise, inspired by NHTTI to meet the growing employment urgency in the hospitality industry. It feels really good to look at the renaissance of hospitality industry in Bangladesh. As NHTTI is only a state institute, this is right time to think of it anew for its international journey. The International hotel Industry is facing an extreme dearth of artistic, competent, well-trained and experienced Management staff. It is well acknowledged that the Hospitality Industry is mounting worldwide and statistics shows that by the year 2007 the industry will employ large number of workers. NHTTI could tempt SAARC students for becoming international at first phase.
NHTTI as establishment would no doubt be viable for international exposure. The school is quite self-contained with its own library and computer room. Students share several things in common, among them the pursuit of a career in hospitality or tourism. Students operate the school as a Hotel throughout their course, where they are both employees and guests, acquiring experience in Front Office, Reception and Room Service. From day one they are rostered on a range of duties that include cooking and waiting at a dummy restaurant.
All of them wear attractive uniforms and badges. Based on the'three pillars of learning' model, practical skills, theoretical knowledge and personal development, the curriculum is designed to provide students with a thorough knowledge of all aspects of hotel management. Management skills, leadership, practical knowledge, a high degree of self-discipline and a positive attitude are the underlying principles of the school's philosophy. Subjects include financial management, marketing and tourism, behavioral science, food and beverage systems, room division management and professional development.
NHTTI offers the following quality Courses:
National Certificate Course (Regular Course) -18 weeks long
1. Food & Beverage Service
2. Food & Beverage Production
3. Travel Agency & Tour Operations
4. Front Office & Secretarial Operations
5. Housekeeping & Laundry
6. Bakery & Pastry
7. Computer Operations
8. Two-year long Diploma in Hotel Management
9. One year professional chef course
10. Short Course (One Month):
a. Ladies Cookery & Bakery,
b. F & B Production and Service,
c. F & B Service
d. Housekeeping
e. Guiding
f. Computer Reservation System
11. Laguage Courses (2-month)
a. Elementary Japanese Language Course (by Japanese Experts)
b. French Language (Occasional)
c. Chinese Language fro Tourist Guide (Occasional)
d. English Language for Hotel and Tourism (Occasional)
For a long time Bangladesh is credible for medical and engineering education for the neighboring students. Many students from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Maldives, Middle East and Africa are studying in different private or government medical colleges and universities. They seem very satisfied with quality education and the ratio is hiking every year. Now this is NHTTI's turn to be international. We can easily lure the neighboring students through launching Bachelor and Master degree in Hospitality Management. The government is requested to take initiatives sincerely.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
Training Officer National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation-NTO
Buddha was seated among his disciples one morning when a man approached the gathering. "God doesn't exist, does he?" he asked.
"No, God doesn't exist," Buddha answered.
After lunch, another man appeared. "God exists, doesn't he?" he asked.
"Yes, God exists," Buddha answered.
Late in the day, a third man asked Buddha, “Does God exist? I wonder.”
Buddha's response was, "You must decide for yourself."
"Master, this is absurd," said one of the disciples, "How can you give three different answers to the same question?"
"Because they were different persons," answered the Enlightened One, "And each person approaches God in his own way: some with certainty, some with denial and some with doubt."
-Sent by Efadul Huq
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