Swosti Group forays into hospitality education

To meet the growing demand for trained professionals in hospitality sector, city-based Swosti Group, one of the premier hotel groups in eastern India, has forayed into hospitality education.

The group has announced the launching of its institute- Swosti Institute of Management and Social Studies (SIMSS), affiliated to Utkal University of Culture. The institute which will initially operate on rented premises, will offer seven programmes for hospitality and tourism sectors.

The home grown hospitality group envisions that its own campus will be ready before five years.

Two courses- a bachelor's degree in tourism and hospitality services and master's degree in tourism and hospitality services will have an intake capacity of 120 students and 60 students respectively. The remaining programmes will be certificate courses to be provided by Swosti Educational Foundation. The courses are post graduate (PG) diploma in Hospitality management, PG diploma in travel and tourism management, certificate course in Food and Beverages (F&B) production, F&B services and housekeeping.

The fees for undertaking bachelor's degree and master's degree at SIMSS will be Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 1.25 lakh respectively including boarding and lodging facilities.

"The maiden session will commence from August this year and the admission process, which will be on first come first serve basis, is likely to start from next week," Hemant Suar, principal, SIMSS told media persons.

Besides providing theoretical knowledge, students will also be provided practical training in our hotels in every department like food production, F&B services, front office, booking, health club and swimming pool operations, discotheque and entertainment services, said J K Mohanty, chairman and managing director, Swosti Group and president, SIMSS.

"The students will also be trained in travel and tourism management through our own company Swosti Travels. All the students will be provided assured jobs in the hotel industry," he added. Mohanty pointed out that the Union ministry of tourism has estimated that the employment in field of tourism will be around 78.24 million which will open up avenues for the students passing out from SIMSS. The group has also plans to start other management programmes in the future.