One of the tourism industry's largest labour shortages is in the area of trained supervisors. Labour market studies show that by 2010, BC will need up to 15,000 more managers in the food & beverage and accommodation sectors. Now, two new training programs offer working professionals a way to gain fundamental supervisory skills and earn accreditation for their efforts.
The Vancouver Premier College of Hotel Management is rolling out its Hospitality Supervisor Development Program (HSDP). Beginning September 2005, the College will offer specialized courses designed to equip students with the knowledge to succeed as supervisors in the hospitality industry. VPC will grant Supervisor Certificates to those who complete a series of courses in any one of four program areas: Food & Beverage, Front Office, Housekeeping, and Sales & Marketing.
In another recently announced program, Royal Roads University (RRU) and Capilano College (CAP) have teamed up to offer a new post-graduate Certificate program called Strategic Leadership in Tourism. Debuting in October 2005, this intensive six-month program was developed in partnership with the BC Centre for Tourism Leadership and Innovation.
Short-term courses suit working professionals
Both programs are designed to accommodate working professionals who aren't available to spend lengthy periods of time in the classroom away from their jobs.
VPC's HSDP training consists of a series of modular courses appropriate for self-paced study. The flexible format gives industry employees the opportunity to learn or brush up on supervisory skills and earn classroom credits while maintaining full-time employment. The Certificate program enables students who complete the coursework to receive industry recognition for their efforts.
The RRU/CAP program is the first dedicated post-graduate credit program for tourism in BC. It features two multi-day learning retreats in Whistler combined with six months of on-line study. Retreats coincide with the industry's shoulder seasons, allowing busy employees to convene when their jobs can best manage their brief absence.
Programs created to meet industry need
Each program works toward the goal of developing tomorrow's tourism leaders—without putting a strain on employers by taking workers currently in the labour pool. At the same time, program graduates will really stand out, as organizations across the province try to meet the growing demand for knowledgeable supervisors.
“We learned the industry needs short-term, flexible supervisory training,” explains VPC’s Director of Education Julia Peters. “We've worked with industry to develop a program that addresses that need, at a cost that's very inexpensive.”
Peter Larose, go2’s Director, Industry Workforce Development, speaks in support of these new initiatives:
“This is exactly what the industry is looking for... short, modularized training directed to existing employees at the supervisory level; [courses] that can be taken in the evening or weekend and taught by industry professionals.”
Until now, there have been few opportunities to gain such knowledge. Many tourism supervisors are trained by way of informal, on-the-job experiences. Providing programs where students learn fundamental leadership skills is an important step that will benefit both new and seasoned professionals.
Brian White, a developer of the joint Strategic Leadership effort and Coordinator of Capilano College's Bachelor of Tourism degree program, agrees. “The major issue right now in tourism is leadership,” he says. “We've developed a high-level, high-quality professional education opportunity that teaches strategic decision-making to lead organizations forward.”
Ms. Peters also indicates that employers are covering course fees for many of VPC's students. She explains how the HSDP Certificates are being considered an investment in employee retention and performance:
“Encouraging employees to take these courses will help employers hold on to key staff. For one, it shows they're interested in employees' career growth. Second, it helps the company, because there's a better chance employees will be successful [in a supervisory role] if they're properly prepared.”
Program details
At VPC, each Hospitality Supervisor Certificate program consists of 98 classroom hours. Participants may elect to complete the program in anywhere from six months to two years. Courses have been developed in conjunction with the school's industry advisory board to ensure the curriculum reflects and addresses situations students will face in the real world. All courses will be taught by industry professionals with 10 to 15 years experience and a background in hospitality management.
Completing these courses permits students to earn emerit industry recognition and certification. Although there are no formal entrance restrictions, the College strongly recommends applicants have at least one to two years industry experience. Get program and enrollment information from Vancouver Premier College.
Students who complete the Strategic Leadership in Tourism program will receive a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership in Tourism from Royal Roads University and a post-baccalaureate citation in Tourism Leadership from Capilano College. Students will also be eligible to apply for advanced standing in Royal Roads' Master of Arts in Leadership and Training degree program.
Involving key tourism executives from Whistler as instructors, the case-based program is geared toward hotel, hospitality, leisure and recreation managers and entrepreneurs with three to five years' experience. Noting that that the success of small- and medium-sized businesses are critical to the overall health of the industry, the program features these in its case material and presentations. Aboriginal tourism businesses are also examined.
Applications for registration are due October 6, 2005. Information is available from Royal Roads via email: execleadership@royalroads.ca.
