Mixed Response For Hospitality Courses At UK Education Road Show

Alan D’Mello - Mumbai

It was a mixed response for hospitality courses at the recently concluded UK education road show. This fact emerged from a survey of 23 of the 72 participating colleges which offered hospitality and tourism related courses. The survey was conducted in Mumbai which was the third leg of the five city tour.

Many of the colleges at this year’s tour were also participants of the 2001 edition. For example the Endinburgh’s Telford College and the Manchester Metropolitan University, both well known colleges, have contrasting opinions. While Edinburgh recorded a below average interest in its courses, Manchester’s international representative said that interest in his courses was high, despite his courses being more expensive. This mixed result was replicated at
the other stalls at the exhibition.

However, on the whole, this year’s road show is being considered a fair success. Said Joel Jacques of the University of Derby’s international office, “Taking a three year perspective, 2002 was a little better than 2001, which however was not as good as 2000, the best of the three years.”

Backing that opinion with figures, Jacqui Allen, education promotion manager, India said that in the 12 months leading upto September 2002, overall 11,707 student visas were issued in India, which is a 72 per cent increase. Correspondingly, Western India’s contribution to that figure has risen by 51 per cent. Allen was unable to provide information as to how much of those visa were for hospitality courses. The mixed response for UK’s hospitality courses reflects the popularity of the subject for Indian students, it does not even feature on British Council’s most popular subject list.