Saveetha Hospitality Institute of Food & Tourism (SHIFT), Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, organised an insightful seminar titled “From Campus to Global Hospitality and Overseas Internships and Career Opportunities” on August 20 at the Training Restaurant Lab on the university campus.
The session was conducted by John Bunter, who has been associated with Cormack Consultancy Group (CCG), UK, and has served as Executive Director, Global Education Alliance, and in senior positions connected with the British High Commission and Cormack Consultancy in the UK.
Bunter highlighted the growing opportunities available to hospitality students through international internships, particularly in France. He explained that students can benefit from a structured five-day working week, relatively shorter working hours and attractive internship stipends, depending on the opportunity and terms of the internship.
He further explained that successful completion of an internship could provide students with opportunities to explore future employment and work-permit pathways, subject to applicable immigration and employment regulations. He also highlighted the wider mobility opportunities that international hospitality experience can provide within Europe.
The resource person emphasised that overseas internships offer much more than professional experience. Students can gain international exposure, intercultural understanding, professional confidence and valuable knowledge of global hospitality practices. France also provides students with opportunities to experience its rich culture, heritage and tourism attractions.
Another significant benefit discussed was the availability of French-language learning support, enabling students to develop basic language skills alongside their professional training. Bunter also explained that the selection process may involve an online internal assessment through Zoom, depending on the programme, rather than a conventional extensive visa interview process.
The seminar provided SHIFT students with valuable insights into international career pathways and encouraged them to consider global opportunities as part of their professional development. The session served as an important learning curve for students aspiring to build careers in the international hospitality and tourism industry.
The programme was organised by Saveetha Hospitality Institute of Food & Tourism (SHIFT), SIMATS, with the objective of connecting students with global education, internship and career opportunities.