Utalii College to expand regionally

Ugandan chef Okello Peter James Oalacan receives a certificate in buffet preparation and presentation after the refresher course organised by Utalii College in Voyager Hotel, Mombasa yesterday. [Mkamburi Mwawasi, Standard]

The Kenya Utalii College is banking on its experience in enhanced hotel sector training as it seeks a regional footing in Zambia, Rwanda and Uganda.

Speaking in Mombasa, College Principal and Chief Executive Officer Hashim Mohamed said they have embarked on discussions with Zambia’s Tourism ministry, a university college in Rwanda and another institution in Uganda to start training programmes there.

“Kenya is far much advanced in hospitality  training  and we are opening up our training programmes in the region,” he told Weekend Business.

The principal said Kenya and Zambia entered into a bilateral agreement last year following  a meeting of the two Heads of State that enabled 50 Zambian students to pursue hospitality training on scholarships offered by the Kenyan government.

“We admitted the first batch of 26 students at our Nairobi campus last September. They have settled down well and are pursuing various courses. Another 24 students are due to join our college later in September,” Mr Mohamed said.

He was speaking during presentation of certificates to graduands of this year’s Mombasa and Malindi regions refresher course.

“Refresher courses are training programmes  developed by the college for employees in the hospitality industry in an endeavour to handle challenges and opportunities that manifest  in the dynamic  industry,” Mohamed said.

He added that the courses on offer are designed to meet needs of employees of both small,medium and large scale hotels as well as tour and travel companies.

"These annual refresher courses are designed to benefit those who have a minimum of two years industry experience and specific qualifications appended for each of programme on offer," he said.

Mohamed said that this year alone, the college targets to train over 1500 employees in different courses countrywide.

During the event presided over by Mombasa County Chief Officer for Tourism. Mr Innocent Mugabe, a total of 190 graduates who included Mr Okello Peter James Oalacan, a Ugandan chef from the Bank of Uganda were feted after completing an intensive two-week course.

Oalacan who trained in buffet preparation and presentation described the training as valuable and timely.

'' I am going home with extra knowledge that I have acquired courtesy of Utalii College expert trainers,'' he said.

In his address, Mugabe called on investors and owners of hospitality establishments to consider investing in human capital with the same zeal they do when it comes to hotel upgrades.

'' Human capital investment goes hand in hand with boosting profitability of an establishment and it is my humble appeal that greater effort be put actualised. Human resource role cannot be taken for granted in any establishment,'' Mugabe said.

He termed as commendable initiative by Utalii College to put in place regular refresher courses for staff working in the hospitality industry.

'' This initiative is quiet laudable as it enables the capacity building of human resources with fresh ideas in an ever changing hospitality scenario that is also highly competitive,'' Mugabe who represented Mombasa County Executive in charge of Tourism, Mr Fawz Rashid said.

Vice chairperson of Women in Tourism for Mombasa Chapter, Ms Janet Chamia also commended Utalii College for being at the forefront in upgrading skills for hotel staff through refresher courses.