Ascott Centre for Excellence offers direct degree path for its WSQ diploma students
First WDA-appointed CET Centre for the Hotel & Accommodation Services sector to offer a degree pathway for WSQ Diploma students
Singapore, 2 April 2014 – – Students pursuing a Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Diploma in Tourism (Accommodation Management) at the hospitality training centre, Ascott Centre for Excellence (ACE), can now enjoy a direct path to a recognised business degree programme from James Cook University (JCU). ACE has entered into an articulation agreement with JCU, becoming the first Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centre for the Hotel & Accommodation Services sector appointed by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to offer such a pathway to a degree course.
ACE is the first and only CET Centre that is run by a hospitality company, The Ascott Limited, and specialises in training for the Hotel & Accommodation Services sector. It offers the full range of WSQ hospitality training programmes, from Certificate, Advanced Certificate to Diploma levels, to the public.
JCU is ranked amongst the world’s top 4% of universities based on a 2013 academic ranking of world universities. The new agreement will allow graduates of ACE’s WSQ Diploma in Tourism (Accommodation Management) to receive credit exemptions when enrolling for a Bachelor of Business programme with JCU Australia or JCU Singapore. ACE’s WSQ Diploma graduates can receive up to 21 credit points out of 72 credits for the programme.
“With tourists today becoming increasingly well-travelled and sophisticated, our tourism workforce needs to further raise its professionalism and skills. We are therefore pleased that the WSQ system, which has been widely adopted by the industry to build a multi-skilled workforce, is now given greater recognition by Institutes of Higher Learning through an articulation pathway. Through this articulation between Ascott Centre for Excellence and James Cook University, our WSQ Diploma graduates will have greater access to a degree programme to prepare themselves for a successful career in the tourism industry,” said Ms Janice Foo, Director, Tourism Division, WDA.
Mr Tony Soh, Ascott’s Chief Corporate Officer, said: “ACE is committed to providing continuing education and grooming hospitality talents for the industry. Our trainers have many years of hospitality experience and they share actual operational situations and best practices, going beyond theory to ensure the participants understand the latest trends and developments in the industry. Since 2008, we have trained more than 5,000 students that include fresh school graduates, mid-career entrants to the hospitality industry and industry professionals looking to upgrade their skills. Many of our students have expressed a desire to further their education and our partnership with a leading university such as JCU offers them a seamless pathway to earn their degree and advance their career.”
Mr Soh added: “Besides being a CET Centre, ACE is the global hospitality training centre of Ascott. Apart from training Ascott’s employees across its operations worldwide, ACE has also trained many students from top international hotels in Singapore. Our WSQ programmes equip participants with in-depth skills and knowledge to excel in the hospitality industry, including areas like finance and budget planning, marketing strategies, business development, human resource and guest service management.”
Dr Dale Anderson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of Campus, JCU Singapore, said: “The hospitality industry in Singapore is a significant employer and ACE is committed to improving the skills of the hospitality workforce. Forging this relationship with ACE represents an excellent opportunity to further upgrade the qualifications of those working in the hospitality industry. JCU’s business degree equips our students with skills that meet the demands of the dynamic and constantly evolving world of business and hospitality. This includes developing communication and engagement skills, building networks, taking a commercial mindset, understanding project management and mastering critical thinking and problem solving.”
Please refer to the annex for more information on ACE’s WSQ Diploma in Tourism (Accommodation Management) and JCU’s Bachelor of Business programme.
ACE’s WSQ Diploma in Tourism (Accommodation Management) is currently open for enrolment. ACE and JCU Singapore will jointly hold a course briefing on 12 April 2014 at ACE’s premises. For more information, please call (65) 6500 3333 or email support.ace@the-ascott.com.
ANNEX
ASCOTT CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE’S
WSQ DIPLOMA IN TOURISM (ACCOMMODATION MANAGEMENT)
Fourteen subjects in the areas of:
- Room Division / Guest Services Operations
- Human Resource Management and Development
- Sales and Marketing
- Business Strategy and Finance
Admission criteria:
- GCE 'O' levels with a credit in English and Mathematics or equivalent; or Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (WPLN) proficiency level 5. Alternatively, participants with supervisory experience in the hospitality industry will be considered on a case-bycase basis if sponsored by a hotel.
- Customer service oriented and possess an outgoing personality
Duration:
- ACE’s Diploma is a part-time course conducted 12 hours per week over 14 months.
- Tuesdays – 6pm to 10pm and Saturdays – 9am to 6pm
Next intake:
- 29 April 2014
WDA course fee funding:
- Enjoy up to 70% WDA course fee funding for all Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
JCU’S BACHELOR OF BUSINESS
Core subjects:
- Accounting for Decision Making
- Economics for Sustainable Business
- Business Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Business, Environment and Society in the Tropics
- Contemporary Business Communications
- Managing Consumer Markets
- Business Law
- Professional Internship / Multi-Disciplinary Project / Independent Project
Majors:
- Hospitality & Tourism Management
- International Business
- Management
- Marketing
- Sports & Events Management Accounting
Minors (Four subjects from one of the following areas):
- Accounting
- Management
- Marketing
- Tourism Management
Admission criteria:
- The entrance requirements differ from country to country but in general applicants must have satisfactorily completed 12 years of schooling or equivalent.
- Successful completion of the JCU Singapore Foundation Programme will also satisfy the entrance requirements.
- English Requirement:
- IELTS 6.0 (no component lower than 5.5) / TOEFL iBT 79 (with minimum writing score of 19) and above; or
- Satisfactory completion of JCU Singapore English Language Preparatory Programme (ELPP).
- Students who have successfully completed two years of full-time study in English medium may satisfy the English Language Requirement.
Duration:
- Two years full time (Singapore campus)
Course structure:
- Three trimesters per year (normally four subjects per trimester)
Intakes:
- February, June and October
For further information, please email enquiries-singapore@jcu.edu.au or call (65) 8222 6833.