THIKA: International experts in the hospitality sector have raised concerns over a skill mismatch among local graduates in the industry, which they say limits their competitiveness in the global market. The experts argue that many students lack strategic skills and proficiency in foreign languages, hindering their ability to adapt to international trends.
According to Kenya News Agency, experts from EUHOFA, the International Association of Hotel, Culinary Arts, and Tourism Schools in Australia, emphasized the importance of compulsory courses such as foreign languages, finance, and strategic management in the hospitality industry. Gerald Lipman, a representative from the association, urged higher education institutions to reassess their curricula to address these issues and enhance the relevance of their students.
Lipman highlighted the necessity for students to be proficient in at least three international languages to effectively engage with clients. “Most hospitality students in the country are only profi
cient in English. We always advise that they pursue other foreign languages, including Spanish, Arabic, or French,” he remarked while speaking to students at the School of Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism Management at Mount Kenya University (MKU) Main Campus in Thika town.
He also stressed the importance of networking between educational institutions and the industry to create linkages that facilitate student placements for attachments and job opportunities. Lipman noted the challenges students face in securing placements in large cities due to logistical and financial constraints, underscoring the need for established connections to support students in adapting to diverse environments worldwide.
Other stakeholders encouraged students to take advantage of the various opportunities available to further their studies, thereby gaining more knowledge and experience in the field.