Award-winning Mount Kigali University is tapping more ways to enhance its hospitality students’ competitive edge. This is according to the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics and Research Affairs, Dr Eugenia Nkechi Irechukwu.

She revealed this after the university hosted an inaugural public lecture on hospitality, travel, and tourism management at its campus in Kicukiro District on June 7, 2024.

Irechukwu said the university will host a second lecture during the last quarter of this year in a bid to further sharpen its hospitality and tourism students. "Our university was declared by the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism as The Best Training Hospitality and Tourism Training Institution of the Year 2022,” the DVC noted.

"We are not resting on our laurels, and want to continuously improve,” she added and announced that the university’s hospitality training hotel, Kigali Paramount Hotel, is yet another demonstration of this commitment.

Irechukwu said: "Our school is the first in Rwanda to launch a training hotel, Kigali Paramount Hotel, which will be a regional centre of excellence in training manpower in the hospitality industry.”

Mount Kigali University invited four hospitality practitioners to give students vital insights on how to gain an edge in the job market. Also present were the university’s faculty.

"We want to cultivate strong academia-industry ties for the benefit of our students and the sectors they will serve after graduating,” Irechukwu explained.

The speakers at the public lecture shared their industry experience and imparted nuggets of wisdom to the students.

Lemigo Hotel General Manager, John Odero, advised students to "stand out among your peers. Be the best in what you do.”

He urged them to display emotional intelligence, especially when dealing with difficult clients. He added that they should also network heavily.

Hôtel des Mille Collines’ Operations Manager, Dennis Rukabu, advised students that character, empathy, and discipline can make them stand out, describing these as key ingredients for career success. Rukabu, and another speaker, Michael Savage, hailed students who were taking notes during the lecture, asserting that this is a good practice.

Savage, a co-founder of the African Unique Safaris and Tours, advised students to work hard to meet the expectations of the clients they will serve.

He pointed out that, in the private sector, making profits is key, and workers have to contribute towards that goal. Savage said it is advisable to own one’s actions. He added that maintaining a lifelong learning mindset pays dividends.

Mahali Africa Adventures General Manager, Vanessa Kanangire, urged students to practice good time management, to meet targets promptly. Like the other two speakers, she advised them to "fall in love with reading to gain more knowledge.”

She noted that female hospitality workers may face challenges because of their gender, but advised them to "fight for your space and be recognised for your positive contributions.”

The Dean of Mount Kigali University’s School of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Management (SHTTM), Paul Okumu, said the lecture "offered an opportunity to explore how best graduates could make a difference in the industry.”

The event was held under the theme, "Enhancing hospitality and tourism experience in Rwanda: What it takes a youth to fit into the industry”.

Okumu appreciated that the students had a chance to engage the speakers by asking several questions on key topical areas, including the welfare of women working in the industry.

"The successful public lecture is yet another way of nurturing competent hospitality graduates who will excel in their work,” said Okumu, adding: "Our graduates are widely sought after by employers in Rwanda and the international market.”

James Kayumba, a student pursuing hospitality and tourism was excited to attend the event.

"I am very happy to have attended the event as I was able to learn the much-needed tips from the industry experts, especially on having the right character and attitude to perform,” he said.

Mount Kigali University offers a Bachelor's of Hospitality and Tourism Management course and will soon start offering an Advanced Diploma in Culinary Arts, a Master's in Hospitality and Tourism, and a PhD in Hospitality and Tourism Management. It is also in the process of opening a new training hotel that will be the regional centre of hospitality training.