India has been known for its warmth and commitment since ancient times when it comes to serving its guests. The old popular saying – “Guests are equivalent to God,” signifies the uniform emotion throughout the nation for its visitors.
For a developing country like India, hospitality generally facilitates sound foundations for global relations, which further enhances the nation’s tourism, trade, and business prospects.
The hospitality industry contributes significantly to the country’s GDP, creating more than 35 million jobs (financial year 2020), almost 8% of the total employment in the country with even higher projections of growth in the coming years.
With such enormous opportunities, the need to deliver state-of-the-art services, infrastructure, and human resource training becomes extremely important. This innate responsibility falls on the hospitality education institutions in the country to fulfill and deliver.
- M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE) has taken this responsibility seriously and dedicated itself to focusing, training, and thriving in the hospitality industry for the country’s growth.
With a perfect combination of academic learning, practical sessions, and professional internship, VMSIIHE emphasizes developing leadership qualities and enhancing students’ communication and soft skills. The institute understands the requirements of the global hospitality sector seeking qualified and trained employees; and steps in to equip students with the requisite and crucial skillsets.
An Establishment With a Vision
The illustrious V. M. Salgaocar Group has established a business legacy in the state. Bringing a diversified environment to hospitality education, it set up a world-class institute, VMSIIHE in Goa – the foremost international tourist destination with perfect exposure; to the hospitality industry among its educational ventures. VMSIIHE is located at Manora-Raia, a pristine, verdant village in south Goa, offering a soothing environment for an interestingly competitive and fun-filled learning experience.
VMSIIHE strives to offer quality hospitality education with a world-class infrastructure that gives one’s career an edge over others. The institute is affiliated to the Goa University and is supported by Marriott Inc., with an existing MOU with Swiss Education Group. Students can pursue their higher education at Cesar Ritz and Culinary Arts Academy, Switzerland.
The institute also offers internship opportunities in Portugal at leading hotels and organizes study tours to Europe, including France, Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium.
VMSIIHE aims at improving knowledge progress and leadership to help students reach their full intellectual and human potential by committing to excellence in learning, teaching, and collaboration with others in the industry.
It aspires to be the best educational institute in international hospitality management to create world-class leaders committed to excellence.
The visionary leader
Leading the institute towards its glorious odyssey Prof. Irfan Mirza, the Director & Principal of VMSIIHE brings with him a rich industry experience and environment of more than 35 years of grooming in hospitality and education sectors. An expert in the hospitality industry, Prof. Mirza has been awarded as a member of the faculty of the AHLEI of USA (American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute) for teaching crucial subjects like Fundamentals of Destination Management and Marketing, Leadership and Management in Hospitality Industry, and Hospitality Industry Financial Accounting among other subjects. Before taking up the role of Director at VMSIIHE, he was the Director, Academic Relations (India) for César Ritz Colleges, Switzerland, and a visiting faculty for numerous other institutes.
Prof. Mirza has expertise in planning and setting up hotel management institutes. Being a professional project consultant, he has successfully set up several hotel management institutes in India and abroad, including the European International College Abu Dhabi, Jindal School of Management in Baroda, Good Shepherd College of Hotel Management, Ooty.
Prof. Mirza has authored books like ‘A to Z International Cooking’ and ‘A to Z International Baking’. He was in charge of creating the START (Skills, Tasks, and Result Training) Hospitality Program in Dubai United Arab Emirates, as well as developing specialized courses for Dubai’s starred hotels. Mr. Irfan Mirza also served as a Specialist/Senior Trainer of Training Solutions consultant at the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing at the Government of Dubai.
Keeping company with the very best and spearheaded by Prof. Irfan Mirza, VMSIIHE has received accolades and several awards while being recognized in India’s top 10 most promising travel and hospitality institutes. He is the recipient of several awards, including- ‘Outstanding Achievement Award for Education Excellence’ presented to him by Shivraj Patil, former Union Home Minister, at the National Economic Development and Social Responsibilities Summit.
Proficient programs provided
VMSIIHE provides various programs that focus on imparting the right knowledge, skills, and, more importantly, the right attitude required to face the challenges young hospitality graduates come across. Below are the programs offered by the institute:
B.Sc. International Hospitality Management– is a three-year degree program that provides a challenging curriculum that helps students develop a critical, analytical and evaluative approach to hospitality management.
B.Sc. Culinary Arts– is a three-year degree program that consists of a balanced curriculum that combines the latest in contemporary culinary techniques and methodologies as well as courses that help provide a relevant business foundation.
M.Sc. International Hospitality and Tourism Management program (M.Sc. IHTM)– is a two-year Post Graduation degree course structured to meet the educational needs of young hospitality graduates who aspire to be managers, entrepreneurs, educators, and other professionals in business and the industry.
While academics holds priority, students are also encouraged to participate in intercollegiate events, sports (internal class and intercollegiate). They are also part of various clubs at the institute like the cuisine club, gardening club, cultural club, NSS. The faculty coordinators and the student coordinators organize a variety of activities for the students throughout the academic year. Students engaged here develop their understanding of leadership skills, teamwork, budgeting, marketing strategies, etc.
Laurels and achievements through the years
VMSIIHE, through its years of commendable excellence, has won several awards. Few of them are listed below:
- Certified as ISO 9001:2015 for the quality management system and ISO 14001:2015 for the environmental management system.
- With a five-star rating, VMSIIHE is the first hospitality institute in India certified by FSSAI as ‘Eat Right Campus.’
- Swachchatam Mahavidyalaya Samman: Award for the cleanest college for three years in a row, from 2016 to 2019.
- The Great Indian Institutes 2018-19: September 2018 Issue of Forbes India Magazine.
Interface with leading hospitality institute
- The institute has a functional agreement with TU Dublin as their academic partner.
- VMSIIHE has tied up with Turismo de Portugal for a ‘Collaborative International Training and Education Program’ for staff and students.
- The Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with César Ritz Colleges Switzerland.
- Member of International EUROCHRIE (Council on Hotel Restaurant & Institutional Education).
Preparing the future hospitality leaders
At VMSIIHE, the curriculum is undertaken in academic support with DU Dublin and is in line with the industry’s requirements globally. Infrastructure and the high-tech equipment provided to the students are in line with international standards. This atmosphere helps students groom for an immensely competitive global hospitality industry.
The institute also offers professional internships opportunities at starred hotels in Maldives, UAE, Portugal, Switzerland, and other countries abroad.
Envisioning the future
VMSIIHE is determined to continue its journey by creating world-class hospitality/culinary leaders committed to excellence by imparting quality education, exponential experience, values, and professional attitude, thereby making a mark on the global map.
