Hospitality courses going well

Response from students to the first Bachelor of Science course at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management has been "wonderful" and the rest of the school's courses are also going well, said its principal Ron Hilvert.

The final number of students for the first intake of the Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management course, due to start on October 6, has not been confirmed but "everything has been wonderful", he said.

"We have already run four professional development programmes for people already working in the industry and we will run another 10 starting in November," he said.

"The numbers are still to be confirmed (for the Bachelor of Science course) and we do not want to make any statements before it happens. But we are comfortable."

The Academy, which opened in April, is owned by Jumeirah International. Part of the academy's aim is to show the rest of the world that Dubai offers top-quality education.

In April, Hilvert said he wanted to have 50 students enrolled in the course. Back then, he was halfway to meeting his target. Eventually he would like to see 300 students.

Interest in the academy has been expressed from all around the world. With an academic association with the prestigious Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne it offers the best quality courses and competitive prices, says Hilvert.

The Bachelor of Science course, open to people over 18 years, requires students to spend two and half years in Dubai, a year in Switzerland and half a year in an international internship.

Fees for Bachelor of Science students are Dh232,237 ($63,280), but for students needing housing it is Dh276,277 ($75,280).