| Azlan Othman |
THE Hospitality Management Course conducted by Laksamana College of Business (LCB) has become popular among students in the country. There has been a four-fold increase in the number of students graduating from LCB. A total of 24 students acquired National Diploma in 2015 compared to six in 2014.
S Sivarajah, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Principal of LCB, told the Bulletin that there is a lot of opportunities as Brunei Darussalam is a growing hub for ecotourism and LCB is working with the ministry to enhance the collaboration on tour guides.
He was talking on the sidelines of a working visit to LCB by the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, to take a closer look at the Hospitality Management Course and other facilities at the institution.
“Trained tour guides can help attract more visitors to the country. We can collaborate further to train local tour guides as we are already running the tourism course for a couple of years. Our National Diploma course is for one and a half years while Higher National Diploma course is for two years,” Sivarajah said.
“They (graduates) can continue their studies in the UK like at the University College of Birmingham or Glion University in Switzerland. They are actually eligible to join any universities that they want to go added,” he added.
The Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, during a classroom tour at Laksamana College of Business (LCB)
The Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism in conversation with students taking Hospitality Management course
Meanwhile, a self-funded student at LCB, Muadzah Mardiah binti Malizan who is taking Hospitality Management (National Diploma Level 3) and is at her second semester in the one- and-a-half year course, said she plans to take the Higher National Diploma (Level 5) course. “But, I plan to work at the hotel industry before proceeding to Level 5. I study at LCB as it fits into what I want.”
Mark Danial Jazmines, who was a tourism and event management student in the Philippines, said he wants to further his studies in hospitality management. “I get more knowledge and experience at LCB and plan to work in the hospitality business sector here in Brunei Darussalam.”
Another student, Mohd Saiid Faaiz Mubarak bin Haji Zulkifli, said studying at LCB is ‘amazing’. He had past experience working with the food and beverage department at Empire Hotel & Country Club and at The Rizqun International Hotel as a waiter. “I am looking for a job as food and beverages manager or general manager,” he shared his dream.
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