Taylor’s University, School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events (SHTE) and Northside Consulting Company Limited (NCCL) formalized a Strategic Partnership to introduce hospitality-centric project management courses into SHTE’s hospitality curriculum. The Memorandum of Understanding was executed via a virtual signing ceremony by Prof. Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Executive Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences & Leisure Management and Mr. Gert Noordzy, Managing Director of Northside Consulting.
Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro, Head of School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events said “This strategic partnership is aimed at ensuring the integrity of the development and roll-out, and continuous improvement of project management courses. Northside Consulting, as Taylor’s Core Industry Partner, will guarantee that content remains current and is infused continuously with the latest industry trends and relevant research.” Mr. Gert Noordzy mentioned “The hotel industry has entered a challenging era, in which “more must be achieved with less”, making project management courses more relevant than ever. We are very excited to be an integral part of this endeavour.”
Dr. Shantini Thuraiselvam, Programme Director, School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events explained: “The first course to be rolled-out is Project Management of Hospitality Projects. This module will be offered online as part of the Master in International Hospitality Management programme starting October 2020” She added: “Over the past 6 months we have developed the course materials and successfully conducted a pilot program.” Mr. Gert Noordzy, Managing Director of Northside Consulting said: “The worldwide hotel pipeline currently stands at 15,000 projects comprising 2.45 million rooms, the highest level ever recorded.
This module has been designed to prepare the next generation of hospitality leaders into the rigour of hospitality projects. These include new hotel openings, renovations, extensions, system upgrades, etc.” “Project management is a strategic competence,” said Dr Joaquim Dias Soeiro. “Mr. Gert Noordzy has researched hotel openings since 2008 and has emerged as a veritable Programme Champion. Our joint efforts will help the hotel industry transform itself and embrace Project Management as a Strategic Competence.”