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Higher Education
The new Diploma in Hospitality is designed for young people in school from age 14 and will be available in some schools and colleges from September 2009. It offers a mix of classroom learning and practical work to prepare young people for the future. Diploma students will learn about the hospitality industry in general and build their knowledge about working in hotels, restaurants and pubs.
The Diploma in Hospitality will give young people the opportunity to develop the sorts of skills that are valued in the hospitality industry, along with English, Maths, and IT, in a creative and enjoyable way.
It is being introduced with a suite of Diplomas covering other industries to encourage young people to learn for longer (to stay on a school to ensure that they get maximum benefit from their full-time education). The Diploma can be taken instead of, or alongside, GCSEs and A levels. Students can choose a Diploma level that suits their needs and opens progression routes to help them succeed. It will teach young people how to deal with customers, think for themselves, express themselves well, help them to become good problem solvers, give them research and presentation skills, all of which are important for life in general, and highly valued in this industry.
On top of this they will learn to prepare, cook and serve food, gain an understanding of good nutrition and be able to budget. If they go on to the Advanced level Diploma (equivalent to three and a half A levels or 420 UCAS points) they will gain an understanding of how to run a business, and cover topics such as sales and marketing. It will be a very useful preparation for any young person who wants to work in the hotel business – and who wants to gain further experience through a university or college course.
The Diploma in Hospitality will give young people an insight into the industry, and help them to make informed career decisions. At Advanced level young people may decide if they go straight into employment or continue to study and gain specific hospitality skills through a university course.
The Diploma, differs from traditional qualifications such as GCSEs and A levels in that it combines theoretical study with practical experience and will provide the tools needed for progression into employment, as well as into further or higher education.
There are three levels of achievement, Foundation level, equivalent to 5 GCES, Higher level equivalent to 7 GCES, and Advanced level, equivalent to three and a half A levels (420 UCAS points).
The Diploma in Hospitality develops knowledge and the study skills that universities are looking for.
Employers and universities have had significant influence on the content of these Diplomas, to ensure that they will prepare the young person for employment and/or further and higher education.
Universities will want to ensure they are familiar with the content of the Advanced level Diplomas. Students with these qualifications will have demonstrated life skills as well as research and analysis skills.
The Diploma in Hospitality will suit young people who are attracted to a course that combines theory with practice. It will give a grounding in the Hospitality sector, while ensuring students have teamwork, problem solving and study skills that are essential to success in work and further or higher education.
