XN000022-1980-03-08 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1980

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING FOR CATERING STUDENTS OF

TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

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CATERING STUDENTS AT THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ARE RECEIVING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN PLACES WHERE THEY WILL EVENTUALLY SERVE HONG KONG'S TOURIST INDUSTRY.

UNDER A PILOT SCHEME DRAWN UP BY THE HOTEL-KEEPING AND TOURISM STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF THE INSTITUTE, STUDENTS ARE SENT TO A HOTEL DINING ROOM OR KITCHEN TO GAIN EXPERIENCE TWO DAYS A WEEK IN ADDITION TO THREE DAYS OF FULL TIME STUDIES IN THE INSTITUTE FOR INTENSIVE RELATED TECHNICAL-EDUCATION.

TWO CLASSES UNDER THIS 'INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL COOKERY AND FOOD SERVICE PROGRAMME' STARTED LAST NOVEMBER AND ARE PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY WITH THE SUPPORT OF 15 HOTELS ARRANGED BY THE HONG KONG HOTELS ASSOCIATION,

+ THE PRIMARY AIM OF THE INTEGRATED PROGRAMME IS TO FIND A FORMULA FOR LINKING INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE WITH FORMAL TECHNICAL EDUCATION THAT WILL MORE EFFECTIVELY MEET THE NEEDS OF NEW ENTRANTS TO THE HOTEL INDUSTRY AND ESTABLISHMENTS THAT WILL LATER EMPLOY THEM, SAID MR PETER KERRISON, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE INTEGRATED COURSE WOULD GIVE A FULL PICTURE OF SHIFT WORK AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN LIKELY PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT TO THE STUDENTS WHO CAN IN TURN APPRECIATE AND EXPERIENCE REAL PROBLEMS AND WORKING BENEFITS.

WHILE UNDERGOING HIS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN A HOTEL, A STUDENT IS PAID ABOUT $20 A DAY. IN ADDITION TO TRANSPORT EXPENSES THIS SHOULD HELP HIM MEET THE COST OF FEES AND TEXTBOOKS.

+HOWEVER THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE GIVEN AN EARLY INTRODUCTION TO A POSSIBLE LONG-TERM EMPLOYER WHILE GAINING EXPERIENCE AND WORKING FOR HIS CERTIFICATE IN HOTEL CATERING,

+BESIDES, THE HOTELS CAN BE HELPED OUT BY SUPPORTING STAFF WHO ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED, JOB STABLE AND OF GOOD QUALITY,

MR KERRI SON SAID,

THE POPULARITY OF THE SCHEME IS SUCH THAT MANY LEADING HOTELS ARE LENDING THEIR FULL SUPPORT.

IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE AND GENERAL SUITABILITY OF THE STUDENTS, THE HOTEL IS REQUIRED TO RETURN A PROGRESS REPORT ON EACH STUDENT ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS TO THE INSTITUTE.

THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMME WILL OPEN UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROSPECTIVE FULL-TIME STUDENTS AND WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR FROM 160 TO 260, AND UP TO 300 IN 1981.

THIS WILL HELP THE HOTEL INDUSTRY WHICH IS YET FACING AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF GOOD STAFF AND WHICH WILL SHORTLY REQUIRE ABOUT 30 PER CENT ADDITIONAL STAFF FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF NEW HOTEL PROJECTS,

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