New Delhi, March 2023.

To give a boost to skill development initiatives in hospitality sector and make apprenticeship aspirational to the professionals, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and with due support from Ministry of Tourism today signed an MoU with Switzerland based Hotel and Tourism Management Institute (HTMi) to jointly provide certificate, diploma, advance diploma  and certification courses in hospitality trades to the aspiring students. Also, a tri-party MoU was signed by NSDC, HTMi and Lamrin Tech Skill University (LTSU).

The first MoU signed between NSDC and HTMi outlined the broad contours of this partnership and a the second was a tripartite MoU between NSDC, HTMi and LTSU. With LTSU as an implementation partner for first phase of this partnership, NSDC & HTMi envisage similar such partnerships as the program gets scaled up. 

The collaboration between NSDC and HTMi intends to equip students with hospitality industry-specific skills  through a unique combination of classroom and work based learning. The MoU was exchanged between Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC International and Ian Robert James Larmour, CEO,Hotel and Tourism Management Institute. In addition, the tri-party MoU was signed by Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, COO (Officiating CEO), NSDC and MD, NSDC International,Ian Robert James Larmour, CEO,Hotel and Tourism Management Institute and Dr Sandeep Singh Kaura, Lamrin Tech Skills University, Punjab, and Adviser to Govt of Punjab.

The students aiming to make a career in the sector will benefit from the programme and provide specialization across different programmes, including degree & postgraduation, Swiss European culinary arts, as well as the professional certification. The full time 6-month certification programme is designed to strengthen the basics and fundamentals of professionals while providing them on-the job training across diverse hospitality sectors to provide a competitive edge to the student  in the domestic and international markets.

Under the partnership, the students will receive the training in three modules over the course of six months which will include topics such as English for hospitality operations, front office operations and administration, housekeeping operations, food and beverage production and services, Guest services, among others. The programme will be implemented in collaboration with the training partners in India.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Hon’ble Union Minister of Education and, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship said, “This year’s budget focused on making India stand in the global economies of the world by emphasising on more capital expenditure and building a circular economy to empower the public. This will increase the spending capacity in the country and will provide a lift to the hospitality sector. India has a culture of Atithi Devo Bhava and hospitality is rooted in India’s rich tradition and building capacities in the sector will further elevate India’s economic prowess and empower its youth. Recently, a budget implementation webinar for also addressed by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi who stressed on how skilling and education will pave the way to India’s success. Therefore, it is imperative that our youth is equipped with the requisite skills and required knowledge. And our youth is talented, energetic, and ready to embrace new opportunities. This collaboration

between HTMi and NSDC will further augment the skill set of our youth and set the hospitality sector on the road to success. NEP 2020 has also  introduced unique avenues in education sector and extended multiple entry and exit points to provide vertical and horizontal mobility.”

Ian Robert James Larmour, CEO,Hotel and Tourism Management Institute said, “The aim of the program is to create Swiss certified hospitality professionals for India and bridging the accessibility to Swiss hospitality skills training & education for Indian students. The focus is to create job opportunities in the hospitality sector within India for these students and provide them a pathway into Swiss hospitality training.

Introducing the program, Ved Mani Tiwari, COO (officiating CEO), NSDC and MD, NSDC International said, “These are exciting times in the field of education and skills, under the visionary leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.  Today, IITs are being set up abroad and foreign students are coming to India. Our honourable Minister for Education and Skill development & Entrepreneurship has focused immensely on introducing vocational training with our education curriculum through the new National Education Policy”. 

“HTMI is one of the leading institutions in hospitality and at No. 4 in QS World University Rankings. This collaboration will provide quality education to our youth at Indian price point with multiple entry and exit points along with three sprints of six month each, bringing down the cost of education and ensuring best placements across the world and bringing employer partnerships to India and with apprenticeship being a key focus of the partnership, the students will receive rich global experience,” he further added.

The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education and, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship; Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE; Shri Gyan Bhushan, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism; Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, COO (officiating CEO), NSDC and MD, NSDC International; Ian Robert James Larmour, CEO, Hotel and Tourism Management Institute; Jean-Baptiste Délèze, Swiss Ambassador and Dr Sandeep Singh Kaura, Lamrin Tech Skills University, Punjab and Adviser to Govt of Punjab.

The collaboration will also offer lateral entry for higher-skills programmes to HTMi & the partner institutes across the globe to upskill and reskill Indian nationals pursuing the international courses. It will also contribute to the advancement of trainers, curriculum improvement and training readiness among the students. The training under each module will be provided to the enrolled students through curriculum outline and delivering extensive knowledge about the industry by using a series of notes, handouts, ppts and other videos. The program is bringing the international qualifications of the HTMi to the students at very attractive price points . An opportunity to work and apprentice in India and abroad is another highlight of the program.

HTMi will not only ensure that the students are provided with internship opportunities before the completion of the programme, but also facilitate student’s placement in domestic and international markets with leading hospitality employers across various roles. The students will be awarded with certified hospitality professional in department specialization, food and beverage division and management on completing the course. Under the collaboration, NSDC will support HTMi in building the outreach of the programme through creating, conceptualizing, and evaluating the modules in accordance with the educational needs of the students and industry demands. It will onboard the trainers for the program implementation and training infrastructure to provide the holistic and seamless learning experience on the domain.

A panel discussion was also organised on the side-lines of the event on Globalization of Skilled Personnel: Our intervention to address the gaps and challenges to pave the way ahead.