Be successful in the hospitality trade with Win-Stone School of Culinary Art
An Advertising Supplement
Whether you are someone who enjoys fine dining, or someone who likes to whip up three healthy meals a day at home, I think we can all agree that every single one of us are culinary enthusiasts. So when it comes to choosing a career, ambitious food fanatics might have a hard time deciding which qualification they should get in order to be able to cater to their ideal employer’s needs, and where to get it from.
Nestled in a quiet corner off of Stanley Thilakarathne Mawatha, Nugegoda is the Win-Stone School of Culinary Art. Established in 2004, the school is highly demand driven as it aims to train and develop youth to be the best in the culinary field. The institute has a great business model, and that is why they have teamed up with international organisations, focusing on getting their students the best education possible. Jobs are guaranteed once you enrol at Win- Stone because they work closely with employers, making sure that everything you learn is at the standard expected of industry professionals.
The institute aims to shatter age barriers, and so students with or without an O/L qualification are able to embark on the journey towards their dream job, since they can start with an NVQ level certificate.
Presently the school offers a Diploma in Hotel Operations and Catering, Certificate in Cookery, Certificate in Pastry and Bakery, and Certificate in Food & Beverage. For your higher education, you will be advised in making a choice between Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand where you can do an Advanced Diploma. In Australia this would be at TAFE South Australia and you can even get a degree from the University of South Australia.
In a field that requires a lot of human interaction with individuals from all over the globe, English proficiency plays a vital part. That is why the English language is one of the first things taught once you start a course. Along with your chosen course of study, you will also learn practical competence in Fire Fighting, First Aid and I nfo r mat i o n Technology which adds a lot of value to the qualification.
When it comes to finding a job, students first receive experience in Sri Lanka at star class hotels as trainees and then they are urged to apply for jobs overseas. This is because salaries, promotions and increments that employees receive abroad are extremely desirable. The Middle East is a highly preferred destination, along with Cruise ships such as AIDA and COSTA. As of right now, there are 200 WinStone students working in the AIDA Cruise ship and another 100 will join in March 2018. The advantages received by a student who chooses to work in a cruise ship include the exposure to different nationalities, environments and cultures which in the culinary field translates into value added to your personal portfolio.
Ms. Iyanthi Goonewardene, the Managing Director of WinStone School of Culinary Art, is an extraordinary personality who became Sri Lanka’s first female executive chef in a rather male dominating profession. With the exposure she received in Australia, where she obtained the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment in the field of Culinary from TAFE SA, she learned how important it is for an executive chef to always be hands on and this is what she is determined to instil in all Win-Stone students.
She urges youth, from rural areas especially, to consider getting an education in the culinary arts and to join the trade since the opportunities are countless and a career in the culinary field can be very enjoyable and the rewards abundant.