HÀ NỘI — As part of an international project, five universities in Việt Nam have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Marriott Hotels to provide practical, international training for students in the hospitality industry. 

The MoU is with the Vietnam-Cambodia Marriott Business Council (VCMBC), who manage 14 hotels and resorts in Việt Nam and Cambodia through Marriott International. 

A pastry chef working at the JW Marriott Phu Quoc, which is among the 14 hotels and resorts of the Vietnam-Cambodia Marriott Business Council. Photo courtesy of Marriott International

The five universities are the Foreign Trade University (FTU) in Hà Nội, the British University Vietnam (BUV), the Thái Bình Dương University (TBD) in Nha Trang, the Duy Tân University (DTU) and the Đà Nẵng University of Economics (DUE) in Đà Nẵng.

Under the MoU, students can attend hospitality career fairs as well as visit, study and intern at any of the 14 hotels and resorts of VCMBC, including Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, JW Marriott Hanoi, Sheraton Saigon Hotels & Towers, JW Marriott Phu Quoc, Le Meridien Angkor, and Courtyard Phnom Penh.

In addition, the 14 hotels and resorts of VCMBC will cooperate with the universities in enhancing specialised hospitality training courses, joining vocational orientation activities and career talks, and provide career consultations to the students. This partnership will last for at least four years. 

Chairman of Vietnam-Cambodia Marriott Business Council, Mark Van Der Wielen, said that the collaboration will help students develop practical skills and allow them to apply their knowledge to a professional working environment.

“We sent our professionals to participate in the student assessment process, and in return, the universities will provide quality human resources come recruitment time,” he said.

A front desk attendant greets guests at the Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, one of the hotels that students will now be able to intern at. Photo courtesy of Marriott International

PhD Lê Văn Huy, Vice President of Đà Nẵng University of Economics, believes the MoU will act as a stepping-stone between the hotels and his university in training a high-quality workforce that meets the demand of employers, as well as graduates.

“I hope the collaborative activities between both parties will help students to become more confident and ready to adapt to the working environment of international hotels after their graduation,” he said.

Professor Nguyễn Hữu Phú, Vice President of Duy Tân University, states that the partnership has brought many positive results before and during COVID-19 pandemic. He deeply appreciates the hotels' role in training their students.

According to PhD Bùi Anh Tuấn, Principal of the Hà Nội Foreign Trade University, the signing of the MoU will further collaboration between the university and Marriott, going beyond national borders and creating opportunities for their International Hotel Management students to intern internationally from their very first year of study. 

“This will help our students to gain practical experience, useful knowledge and familiarity with the professional working environment, meeting employers’ demands right after graduation.” VNS