Group to help schools boost tourism, hospitality management courses

CEBU, Philippines – A non-government organization has offered to help improve the curriculum of schools in Cebu that offer tourism and hospitality management courses.

The Tourism Educators and Movers Philippines or “Team Philippines” said helping schools improve their academic curriculum for tourism and hospitality management courses would, in turn, help the schools produce top-of-the-line graduates.

Team Philippines was organized by Robert Joseph, founder of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies.

Primarily composed of students, teachers, and deans from different schools in Cebu, Team Philippines was launched October last year with the aim to be the first industry and academe- led organization that would help in the growth of the country’s tourism industry.

Joseph said Team Philippines will also partner with the Commission on Higher Education for the proper implementation of the program.

During yesterday’s 888 news forum, Joseph said the schools would certainly benefit from the trainings that would be offered by the organizations that would tapped by Team Philippines like Toastmasters International, a global organization for public speaking. 

“It would make the academe globally competitive and students can work abroad and excel in their chosen fields,” Joseph said.

Likewise, Team Philippines can also offer skills training on writing and listening, as well as on personality development.

Several schools have reportedly shown interest to the offer, including the University of San Jose Recoletos, University of San Carlos, University of the Visayas, Southwestern University, University of Cebu and Cebu Normal University.

Joseph clarified the program would only help improve the curriculum but will not, in any way, change it.

Board Member Agnes Magpale who attended the forum in behalf of the provincial government, said the province will support the activities of Team Philippines. – AJ A. de la Torre/JMO (THE FREEMAN)