Earn While you Learn in New Zealand

Toronto – Employing over 200 million people and generating in excess of 10% of the world’s GDP , the Travel and Tourism industry is growing rapidly. After several years of set-backs due to international crises, it is now more apparent than ever that a strong tourism industry positively impacts all levels of the economy, creating thousands of jobs. But how can Canadian youths tap into the increasingly demanding hospitality job market?

Laura Wood, Senior Consultant at Globetrotters Education Consulting Inc., explains that the recipe for success in the hospitality industry has become very complex in the past decade. “We have seen it happen in so many industries here in Canada, first comes success and then the need for formalized training,” says Wood, “The coveted management positions now require a degree in hotel management, solid internship placements and international experience.”

Despite local colleges offering hospitality programs, Laura Wood reports that more students are opting to study overseas to gain the necessary international experience right from the beginning. “The hospitality industry is innately international and a degree in hotel management must reflect the needs of the industry”, she says. Despite respected institutions in Europe and the USA, schools as far away as New Zealand are now seizing students’ attention for their practical training, paid industry placements and unique living environment.

The on-campus component at New Zealand’s leading school of hotel management, Pacific International, includes accommodation at the hotel with all of the amenities, meals in the dining room and alternating hotel responsibilities. This allows students to gain hands-on experience before they even reach the internship placement. Wood explains that Pacific International is becoming very popular as they offer paid work placements that make up almost half of the program and help to offset the cost of the degree. A member of the “Leading Hotel Management Schools in the World”, this network encourages student transfers among the institutions to promote the same strong curriculum but in different environments.

“Canadian students have responded very well to the Pacific International program” says Wood, citing the shorter 3-year degree and paid work experience organized by the school among the top reasons students have traveled the distance to study. She chuckles, “Of course, scenery from the Lord of the Rings trilogy doesn’t hurt either.”

For more information about Pacific International or other international and post-secondary study opportunities with Globetrotters Education Consulting Inc., contact Laura Wood at laura@globetrotterseducation.ca.