Director of The Swiss Hotel School South Africa, Stephen Hickmore, says, based on the past two years, 75% of the school’s graduates elect to leave immediately after their studies to work overseas; 20% are absorbed into local industry and about 5% continue their studies.
Hickmore says the institution trains 120 students a year: 60 professional culinary arts students and 60 hospitality degree students. During the course of their studies, students serve internships, often abroad, to gain practical experience. “80% of our second-year degree students are presently on international internships in the USA, Mauritius, Switzerland, Germany, Israel and UK.”
The students want to qualify and travel before going into senior positions, and are happy to develop their careers later. Hickmore says most local students who go and work overseas don’t leave their studies but are happy to get the experience and return to continue studying.
One of the reasons that the students finally do seek overseas opportunities after graduating is the opportunity to earn in foreign currency. “The problem is money,” says Hickmore.
Notwithstanding the exodus of graduates travelling to work overseas, Hickmore points out that the majority do eventually return home. The alumni survey found that 60% of the graduates had returned to South Africa after getting overseas exposure and travelling for two to three years. “They return to see their family, because of their love of South Africa and because of it being one of the best places to work,” says Hickmore.
He maintains that the local hospitality industry is highly attractive for local graduates: “Our hotels are absolutely world-class. We have a superb industry and world-class cuisine. Our products are modern. We have some of the friendliest staff, wonderful South African hospitality and a high level of genuine service.”
Hickmore says UK and US hospitality venues, and cruise lines especially, appreciate South Africans’ diversity, adding that they are incredibly adaptable and our youth are disciplined. “They have a great attitude.”
The hotel school has had to respond to changing industry demands and new technology through new training methodology. Addressing these changes through a mixture of practical and business-style learning, the institution has brought in lecturers from the Gordon Institute of Business Studies and Wits Business School to teach business subjects like economics and to equip students with management skills.
Hickmore says the school has found young people join the hotel school after first studying something else. Hospitality is seen to be attractive because there are real opportunities to be had, as students get jobs before they leave.
He is upbeat about training Gen Z hotel school students, describing them as adventurous, curious and hungry for great experiences to post on Facebook and TikTok. “Gen Z-ers are very questioning, constantly asking ‘why’ because they need to understand context. They are phenomenally distracted by social media, and have a mix of curiosity and fear of missing out. They are greatly ambitious and hugely positive at the same time.”
