School of Hospitality present on Career Attributes, Soft Skills and Experiential Learning

Recently, Dr Kamelia Chaichi from the School of Hospitality, Sunway University went to the Catholic High School in Petaling Jaya to share about careers in the hospitality industry. In her talk, Dr Kamelia mentioned that the hospitality industry is the ‘fastest growing industry’ where students can venture into various fields – Food Service Management, Event Management, Accommodation & Hospitality Management and Tour & Travel Management.

In the service industry, a happy customer may be the result of consuming innovative products and experiencing a “wow” service. Dr Kamelia also shared information concerning the top traits of a hospitality professional which include empathy, good listening skills, and being calm, composed, energetic and resourceful. These are often known as ‘soft skills’ which are necessary attributes of the hospitality industry. The presenter continued to highlight some of the skills that were pertinent for people in the hospitality industry, including planning skills, customer service skills, teamwork, communication skills and problem-solving skills. Though these skills and traits are important components, Dr Kamelia also mentioned that one has to continually improve oneself by being informed about societal trends and technology.

Furthermore, Dr Kamelia also shared about the learning opportunities at the School of Hospitality, Sunway University, where students of the School have a balance of theory and practical education. Students also get to experience world-class kitchens and hotel facilities. On top of that, students will have the opportunity to conduct projects and assignments that are ‘out-of-the-classroom’, which translates to providing students with experiential learning.

This career talk is the School of Hospitality’s effort to engage with potential students to explore learning opportunities in the School of Hospitality and future career prospects.