Mexico exchange

MEDIA RELEASE

April 2007

Mexico exchange

Two Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) hospitality students have been doing a speed course in Spanish in preparation for a month in Mexico.

Students Katrina Cousins and Jay Woodhams, along with Tutor Diane Langman, left this week on an exchange programme to CESSA University in Mexico City. Katrina and Jay will attend classes and Diane will tutor some of the Mexican students.

Stephen Pope, who manages international relationships for WelTec’s School of Hospitality, says that one of the students has never travelled outside of New Zealand before.

“Mexico City itself has over eight million people and will be a real eye-opener for the students,” says Mr Pope. “They will be very well looked after. As well as their tutor watching out for them, there has been great support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as the Mexican Embassy. People are very keen for them to have a successful trip.

“It will be a fabulous learning experience for them,” says Mr Pope. They will see how the hospitality industry operates overseas as well as the way people live and cook local food. It will also expose Mexican students to New Zealand and some of our culture.

“They should not have too many problems with language because all students at CESSA must speak English as well as French and Spanish. The University teaches everything related to the hospitality industry. It’s programmes and graduates are very high quality and well-respected.”

The exchange student exchange will alternate between WelTec and CESSA each year. Three Mexican students came to WelTec in 2005 and went home to win a prize for Mexican food cooked with New Zealand products.

WelTec’s International Director and Head of School for Service Professionals, Kay Nelson, says that the partnership with CESSA is one of a number that WelTec has around the world to offer opportunities for students and staff to gain an international perspective as part their education. “Employers are increasingly wanting people who have an understanding of the wider world,” says Ms Nelson.

“And those students who don’t travel still gain this perspective from visiting students and tutors. Our Hospitality and Tourism school is working toward becoming a recognised Centre of Excellence in Vocational Education and having international relationships is extremely important to such a global industry.”

The two students have been fundraising toward their visit. They will have some help. Sue and Andrew Dinsdale, whose daughter Sam went as a WelTec student to France on a similar exchange in 2005, have also given some money to help WelTec hospitality students on similar exchanges. Sam has gone on to work for Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in London.

ENDS

© Scoop Media