This is the latest college partnership model Marriott International has embarked upon in China to develop the future generation of the hospitality workforce to support its growth in the country.

Once established, the Marriott Institute of Hospitality Education will become an integral part of the Anhui Zhong-Ao Institute of Technology and will enroll students from the annual China national examination for a three-year diploma programme. The expected number of 2013 intakes will be 300 students.

Initially, the curriculum focus will be on Hotel Management, but plans are in place to expand the course to include Tourism Management as well as Culinary and Nutrition. In the final year of study, students will have work placements at Marriott's hotels in China to gain experience in a real-life hotel environment.

Marriott International will offer a full array of support to ensure that this joint programme is a great success from the very start, including lectures from the company's senior executives to the students. Other support includes student field study and internship opportunities at Marriott International's hotels, faculty internship and curriculum development. Michael Malik, Market Vice President – Eastern China of Marriott International will serve as the deputy dean of the Marriott Institute of Hospitality Education. He will provide counsel and oversee the education direction of the Institute.   

In the inauguration ceremony of the Marriott Institute of Hospitality Education, Regan Taikitsadaporn, Chief Human Resources Officer of Marriott International Asia Pacific, said: "Marriott International is proud of the fact that it is consistently recognised as a top employer in China and around the world. We have been providing career development opportunities to ambitious talents worldwide for more than eight decades. The launch of the Marriott Institute of Hospitality Education not only upholds our core values, but also serves as a timely move to fuel our tremendous portfolio growth in China. 

Photo: Regan Taikitsadaporn, Chief HRO of Marriott International Asia Pacific (center left) and Wang Yuan Hao, President of Anhui Zhongao Institute of Technology (the third from the right) along with other Marriott and Anhui government executives at launch event.

"Marriott International currently cooperates with a number of colleges throughout China to help foster the next generation of hotel executives. Nevertheless, in terms of the breadth and depth of such kinds of exercises, this co-operation with Anhui Zhong-Ao Institute of Technology is unprecedented," said Taikitsadaporn.  

Marriott International has launched co-operation programmes with 15 colleges in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guiyang and in other locations. In addition, Marriott has relations with 112 colleges across China and recruited more than 2,500 interns in 2012 in the country.

Wang Yuan Hao, Dean of Marriott Institute of Hospitality Education, said: "The hospitality industry of China has been growing rapidly and this trend is expected to continue in coming years. Therefore it is essential that our education will keep pace with and meet the human resources demand of the industry. We are delighted to have the support of Marriott International to this programme as the company brings a wealth of experience and heritage in developing hospitality talent around the world."

With 137 open and signed hotels in China, Marriott International expects to open on average one hotel per month in the country for the five years. The company intends to add some 40,000 associates in China by 2016.