Enrolled for success Building strong connections for the future
JAMES Cook University has partnered with 20 businesses and organisations in the Far North’s hospitality and tourism sector to accompany its Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events (BTHE) and Master of International Tourism and Hospitality Management (MITHM) degrees.
This will allow students to put their theoretical knowledge to practical use by easily connecting with employers for work experience and potential employment opportunities.
The list of JCU’s premier tourism industry partners includes hotels, restaurants, tour operators and industry bodies, as well as other education and training institutes.
All partners understand the importance of educating and training future generations in tourism, hospitality and event management, and say they’re excited to welcome JCU students into their organisations.
Accor Hotels
One of the world’s largest hotel management groups, Accor Hotels has partnered with JCU, bringing with it a backing of more than 3700 hotels in more than 100 countries.
This means through their studies, BTHE and MITHM students will be connected with 13 different Accoroperated hotels including the likes of Pullman Cairns International, The Reef Hotel Casino and The Mantra hotels.
Pullman Cairns International general manager Monique Harmer said she was delighted to partner with JCU.
“It means we can identify the best talent, we can put them in our hotels and we can grow our colleagues at the same time as the students are studying, allowing them to build their work experience with us,” she said.
“So you have the opportunity to develop your work experience at the same time as gaining your theoretical knowledge.
“Hopefully at the end of their study they will continue to grow their career with us.
“Whether your interest is in attractions, hotels, tourism or marine tourism, there will always be a job for you in Cairns.”
Bad Fishy Jet Boating Cairns
One of the most thrilling ways to cool off in Cairns is with a Bad Fishy Jet Boating tour.
The tour operator describes its boat tours as a “roller-coaster on water”.
Bad Fishy Jet Boating Cairns owneroperator Nikki Giumelli said the tourism industry in Cairns had seen a lot of growth, from hotels to attractions.
“Ensuring we have skilled labour to be the best in the business is key to the success of our region. Students who do well in their degrees will find great opportunities to be part of our successful and proud industry.”
Ms Giumelli welcomed the inclusion of the two new degrees in JCU’s offerings and said it would allow students to gain practical experience while studying, or allow current employees to upskill or formalise their experience.
“We’re thrilled to work with students to provide them with opportunities to gain experience in customer service, operations, local sales and marketing and opportunities to network within the industry,” she said.
Ms Giumelli sees many ways students can get involved in the industry after graduation: “From running their own tourism business to working in different areas of the distribution chain, and in the delivery of tourism products to customers.”