Hospitality Services Offers Samples of the Field

“What it does is it allows students from different circumstances to take a college certificate that allows them to sample the world of hospitality,” says Andrew a professor of the Hospitality Services program at Centennial College, which takes just one year to complete. “When a student enters the program, the majority of them have not had much experience in the industry. And we deal with a gamut of students, some with special needs, who we try to position in an area of hospitality that would allow them to get employment. We find that the best way to do this is by doing three days in-class and all intro courses from hotel, restaurants and tourism and then Thursday and Friday, they do placements. When they’re on placement, they get a chance to get a feel for the industry they believe they are interested in and if they enjoy it, they’ll stay on for the next semester and then [hopefully] go on to work for the company. The beauty of this program is it’s a small group of students that travel through the program together so it becomes like a family.”

While Andrew does a great job of really explaining what this Hospitality Management in Canada program is all about, let’s take a look at some of the finer details that make it respected in the industry.

• Training in this program’s hospitality courses prepares students for a range of positions such as: room attendant, front desk clerk, food service, cook or maintenance worker.

• As a hospitality college program geared towards a wide range of students, Hospitality Services fosters an inclusive and collaborative environment in which students are encouraged to learn from one another and team up on assignments and projects.

• The facility from which the Hospitality Services program is facilitated is called Progress Campus. This location houses all of Centennial College’s hospitality college programs and, therefore, offers students access to numerous facilities that will enhance their learning.

• Among the facilities found on-campus that Hospitality Services students benefit from are a real-life restaurant, a conference centre that is run by students as well as a computerized training facility.

• Knowledgeable faculty members, who possess current experience, are at the helm of all hospitality courses. They not only offer up-to-date information but also share personal anecdotes.

• Among the specific topics covered within this offering’s hospitality courses are visitor information services, room attendant, front of the house agent, beverage services, safety and sanitation, kitchen and dining room operations and more.

• In addition to hospitality management and hospitality services courses, students learn job-seeking techniques, job interview and resume skills via courses such as Life Skills & Job Readiness and Communication Skills for Hospitality Services Workers.

• Practical application of skills learned in Hospitality Services is achieved through placements at various companies that include: Swiss Chalet, Chartwells, Kelsey’s, Shoeless Joe’s, Boston Pizza, Moxie’s and Travel Lodge.

• Aside from earning an Ontario College Certificate, students of Hospitality Services also have the opportunity to take certification exams in Sanitation and Beverage Services.

• Should students be interested in further education, they can transfer to one of Centennial College’s more specialized hospitality management programs.

• Hospitality Services requires students to have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19 years or older).

Top 5 Tourism Management Courses

According to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), cultural and heritage tourism is increasing by an unprecedented 15 percent per year. Professionals who complete post-secondary Tourism Management courses are hired by organizations, companies, major hotel chains, museums and municipal governments such as Festival and Events Ontario, Heritage Toronto, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, (Ontario), Parks Canada, Town of Markham and more.

At Centennial College’s Tourism Management – Cultural and Heritage Tourism program, students obtain a measured application of fundamentals and training culminating in valid industry experience opportunities that equip learners to contribute to the tourism sector as it retools for an emergent transformation. Here are five crucial Tourism Management Programs at Centennial College will put students ahead of their competition.

Ontario Cultural & Heritage Tourism Product: This Tourism Management course focuses on the fact that Ontario records more international visitors than any other Canadian province or territory. As such, students investigate how the geographic makeup of the province influenced its historical development, the consequence of which has contributed to engaging tourism experiences. Students also gain insight into what Ontario has to offer from a cultural and heritage perspective by delving into a region-by-region exploration of Ontario's tourism assets — from world-class accommodation and urban experiences to wilderness adventures.

Managing Cultural and Heritage Facilities: In order to protect, maintain and program arts, cultural and heritage organizations, it takes dedicated staff and volunteers, as well as massive support from the private and public sectors. Through research, class discussions and projects, lectures from faculty and visiting professionals, and site visits to local organizations, in this hospitality management course, students identify best practices in managing arts, cultural and heritage facilities. They also deconstruct a local heritage organization using its real life practices and challenges to generate new revenue in order to promote financial stability.

Cross-Cultural Behavior in Tourism: Assisting students in understanding tourist behaviour in a cross-cultural context is the basis of this Tourism Management course. Elements of values, norms and rules and their effect on tourists’ behavior, holiday expectations, experiences, satisfaction and consequently repeat visitation are examined. The course also allows students to see how cultural differences influence tourist holiday perceptions and satisfaction and provides an in-depth analysis of five Asian cultures in comparison with European, American and Australian cultures.

Tour Planning and Management: This aspect of the Tourism Management Programs at Centennial College teaches students about sales incentives used by various companies to increase sales volume. Creating unique, memorable and more than positive experiences requires excellent costing, planning and management skills as well as imagination — all skills taught in this Tourism Management course and Tourism Management program.

Festival Management: In this Tourism Management course, students examine the multidisciplinary nature of this profession as well as the unique skill set required of career aspirants to this field.

To apply for the program and attend any of these Tourism Management courses students are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Also required is a compulsory English 12C or U skills assessment, or equivalent.

Computer Networking Training Focuses on Software System Design

Created solely for the purpose of meeting the critical need for highly specialized software designers, Centennial College’s Software Systems Design program called Applied Information Sciences – This is the only program of its kind in the province of Ontario. Centennial College was actually selected by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to deliver the offering and the Information Technology Association of Canada sang the computer networking training’s praises right away: “Centennial’s bachelor’s degree in Software Systems Design ... will go a long way in contributing to meet this need for skilled people who can design, build, install, service and create future information technology applications.”

Since its creation, the combination of software systems design and business communications courses have done just that by preparing students to take on the roles of: software developers, software engineers, systems analysts, business analysts, web application developers, IT project managers and computer programmers/analysts.

How exactly do students of this computer networking training go from novices to experts in four years? Firstly, students receive both theoretical and practical experience through a balance of labs and lectures that focus on system design, a blend of technology and business subjects as well as specialization in mobile application development or service-oriented architecture and cloud computing. Among specific topics covered in the systems design and business communication courses are: economics, financial analysis, website design and development, statistics and research methods, database driven websites, applied ethics, data structures and algorithms, programming for network systems, software design patterns, software quality assurance, business consulting and more.

Secondly, helping students to fully grasp concepts are real-world experiences — both on and off campus. For example, Morning side campus, which is the school’s high-tech, award winning campus, gives students access to the most up-to-date equipment. This includes: VoIP, WiFi, Cellular Networks, Advanced Routing and Switching and Network Management and Wireless Broadband (WiMax) in all of its computer labs. The labs come in handy when computer networking training students complete three software development projects. These real-world business applications require students to utilize all the technical, systems and business skills acquired during their studies to build higher quality software. Meanwhile, off-campus experience is offered in the form of a15-week paid co-op placement. This placement puts students into companies that hire software design system professionals, so that they can apply theory and practice to real-life situations. To be eligible for co-op, students are required to obtain a minimum C grade in ENG-110, minimum 2.0 GPA and minimum 80 per cent of year 1 and 2 courses.

Those interested in the software systems development in Toronto and business communication courses must possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma with a minimum of six 12U, 12M, OAC credits or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Other requirements include English 12U and one of the following: Math 12U Advanced Functions, Math 12U Calculus and Vectors, Math 12U Mathematics of Data Management or equivalent. Possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to program.

Community and Child Studies Training Offers Solid Perspective

When working with children, at-risk populations or the community in general, a strong foundation is essential. Although you may not currently have the credentials needed to attend Centennial College programs such as, Recreation and Leisure Services Child and Youth Worker, Developmental Service Worker, Early Childhood Education, Community and Justice Services, Police Foundations, and Social Service Worker, there is an offering that will help you to gain access to them in just two semesters. The child studies training and community courses in Community and Child Studies Foundations are an academic pathway that covers a range of topics needed to advance your college education, resulting in an Ontario College Certificate and an invite to join your program of choice in the community services and child studies department.

The purpose of the community and child studies training is two-fold as it helps you to become familiar with topics that may be covered in your advanced program and assists in developing academic and professional skills and attitudes. It is also worth noting that the community and child studies training supports and acknowledges the needs of adult and ESL students. Let’s take a look at some of the vital courses that assist in helping to prepare students for further education.

Foundations in Community & Child Studies: The essence of community and child studies training, this course shows you that communities are supported by a variety of exciting and essential services that respond to the needs of families and children. As such, you explore the range of services offered in the Community and Child Studies field and gain insight into the scope of these delivery models. You also look at professional roles and summarize key career benefits and issues.

Student Success/Interpersonal Skills: As previously mentioned, as a student of community and child studies training, you also develop on a personal level. In this child studies course, you are familiarized with and develop close relationships with the resources available in the college to support your success as a student in a post secondary environment. You also classify your personal learning styles and develop a personal plan of action that incorporates needed resources. Lastly, you discover portfolio development and engage in a variety of technological tools to facilitate your success.

Introduction to Psychology: Because all of the community and child studies areas of the field deal with psychology on some level, you must have a solid base. As such, this community and child studies training aspect looks at concepts and principles of selected areas of psychology. By using involvement exercises and activities, you will demonstrate your knowledge of the information by applying it to aspects of daily living, and in the process, improve your understanding of yourself, your environment, and your daily interactions.

If these community and child studies courses are of interest to you, please consider that they are only open for admission to applicants who have been advised and assisted to register by the Centennial College Assessment and Advising Centre. To apply, you are required to possess minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, if you are interested in the child studies training, you must complete the Centennial College English skills assessment before registering for the program. A score of 130 or 131 is required. In some cases, your skills assessment score will satisfy the requirements for their original program choice. Centennial College will notify you by sending an offer to your original program, granted that there is still space available.

College Computer Networking Training Results in Degree

For students who are torn between a degree in Information Sciences – Computer and Communication Networks and obtaining the more hands-on experience that comes with college courses, there is Centennial College’s computer networking training. The four-year program isn’t just unique for that reason. It is also the only offering of its sort in the province, as the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities selected Centennial College to address a critical need for networking professionals. As a result, you’ll impress employers with a degree, hands-on experience and unique perspective on the industry.

To apply for the computer and communication network and business communication course in Toronto that this program offers, you are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with a minimum of six 12U, 12M, OAC credits or equivalent or are 19 years of age or older. In addition, you must have completed the English 12U and one of the following: Math 12U Advanced Functions, Math 12U Calculus and Vectors, Math 12U Mathematics of Data Management or equivalent.

Once you are accepted into the computer networking training, you will not only get the opportunity to choose between specializing in network security or wireless systems but each route comes with a balance of theory-based courses and real life practical experience. For example, students of this computer networking training participate in a 15-week mandatory co-op placement, during which they are placed in financial institutions, Fortune 500 organizations, and IMB as well as private sector companies. A minimum C grade in ENG-110, minimum 2.0 GPA and minimum 80 per cent of year 1 and 2 courses required for COOP-221.

But in order to be prepared for this aspect of the program, you will attend business communications courses at the fully-equipped Progress Campus, which is home to state-of-the-art laboratories that are specially engineered and feature VoIP, Cellular Networks, Wireless Broadband (WiMax), Advanced Routing and Switching or Network Management. All labs are small in size so you also receive the added benefit of individual attention from highly qualified, industry-experienced full-time faculty members. Specific computer networking training courses include: Computer Architecture (concerned with operational methods of the hardware, with the services provided by operating system software; with the acquisition, processing, storage, and output of data; and with the interaction between computers); Enterprise Network Design (students investigate and design a variety of enterprise network configurations with emphasis on modeling and simulating networks, using the most advanced computer tools); and business communications courses like Marketing of Services, Organizational and Client Relationships, Fundamentals of Business and Information Systems, Entrepreneurship in the New Economy and more.

Once you complete your Computer networking training, you have two options. First, you are prepared to apply for positions that include: IT program managers, network administrators, project management analysts, business account managers, technical account managers, network analysts and network support. Secondly, Centennial College also helps students transition to further education, thanks to an educational partnership with Griffith University in Australia that allows qualified graduates to apply academic credit towards further study.