MIT welcomes funding announcement

10 July 2006

MIT welcomes funding announcement for Kiwi hospitality apprentices

The Tertiary Education Commission’s (TEC) funding commitment, which is geared to boost modern apprenticeship numbers in the hospitality industry, has received the thumbs up from Manukau Institute of Technology’s School of Catering and Hospitality Studies (CHATS).

“The announcement signifies how much importance the government is placing on training within the hospitality industry, as demand continues to grow for highly skilled workers,” says CHATS head of school, Johann Wohlmuther.

“As one of New Zealand’s largest ‘off the job’ apprentice training providers, MIT is fully committed to meeting the needs of the industry in today’s modern job market.”

The sizeable funding injection should see the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) boosting its current pool of apprentices from the existing 181 trainees to 270 positions by the end of 2007.

Johann says as New Zealand’s burgeoning hospitality and tourism industry continues to grow, well-trained apprentices will have their choice of rewarding positions as employment opportunities open up.

“At CHATS we have always focused on providing top training as we realise how important it is to get good-quality people into positions that benefit the industry. This funding announcement not only endorses how important training is, but it also enables education providers and industry employers to tap into an even greater pool of talent that exists within New Zealand in the sector,” he says.

Meanwhile, CHATS is a finalist in the Training Provider (Qualification Pathways) category of the prestigious 2006 Hospitality Standards Institute Excellence in Training Awards which is being presented on Friday, 14 July 2006.

ENDS

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