International Hospitality Management (Fast Track)

The International Hospitality Management (IHM) programme at NHL Stenden includes a wide range of competencies that are required in today’s dynamic and fascinating world of hospitality. Our learning company Stenden University Hotel represents the hospitality industry. NHL Stenden believes in learning by doing and students develop essential skills required by hospitality employers by performing duties at the Stenden University Hotel. The International Hospitality Management course at NHL Stenden University focuses on excellence within the hospitality industry.

“96% of our International Hotel Management graduates are in employment four months after graduation.”

Academic Dean, NHL Stenden Hotel Management School

The programme: what can you expect?

Theory doesn’t work without practice, therefore the International Hospitality Management programme puts students straight to work in our own learning company, the 4-star Stenden University Hotel. During the first year of the studies, students will work in the Stenden Hotel as well as the canteen. Furthermore, subjects will include finance, marketing and research.

During the second year, students will discover subjects such as law, operations management and statistics. Furthermore, students will be able to run their own virtual hotel as well as work as a supervisor in the canteen or Stenden hotel. The third year will consist of attending classes based on revenue maximisation and market analysis. Moreover, students will take on the role as managers and choose which minor they would like to undertake. The hospitality sector is an international field and our programme is its true reflection, therefore, students can choose to conduct their minor in the Netherlands or at one of the other NHL Stenden campuses located in Thailand, Bali, South Africa and Qatar (this is also known as the Grand Tour). Just a few of the minors that we offer are Cruise Management, Gastronomy and Event Management.

Hospitality is a global industry that requires international mobile employers. Many multinational companies such as Hilton, Marriott’s and Starwood offer management programmes to young international mobile graduates. Our Hotel Management programme is developed with this valuable component. Therefore, in the final year, students will work alongside our industrial placement office to find a paid internship in countries such as the USA, UK and France. During this time students will also write their final graduation project.

Upon graduation, students obtain a Bachelor of Business Administration; an internationally recognised degree that brings global opportunities to graduates. Depending on your educational background you may also be eligible for the Fast Track programme in International Hospitality Management which takes 3 years instead of 4 years. After completion of the course, students could also obtain their Master’s degree by enrolling in NHL Stenden’s International Hospitality and Service Management Master course.

What can I become?

If one would like to establish a management career in a hotel, restaurant, recreation park or conference centre, then the International Hospitality Management Programme is the ideal education. The programme prepares students for a position in management or consultancy in the hospitality sector and forms an excellent foundation to build on either at home or abroad. The international character of the programme means many graduates go on to find work overseas and build a global career. Graduates are also highly attractive for a wide range of employers within the service industry: the customer-focused skills and knowledge are vital for a wide range of organisations.

“As Learning & Development Manager, I’m responsible for employee training and education, from team member to general manager, for the Hilton Hotels in the Netherlands and Antwerp.”

Björn Olthof, Hilton the Netherlands & Antwerp

With a degree in International Hospitality Management, you could take on a position such as:

• Food and Beverage Manager for a large hotel establishment or holiday park managing and organising the entire department.
• Rooms Division Manager for a large hotel establishment or conference centre managing the front office and housekeeping staff.
• Manager of a Convention Bureau responsible for the day-to-day management of the office and events.
• Sales Manager representing a chain of hotels and arranging package deals with corporate clients.

This all-round programme provides graduates with unlimited career opportunities: 96% of International Hospitality Management graduates find employment within 4 months after graduation!

International reputation

The NHL Stenden Hospitality Management course in Leeuwarden is the largest hotel management programme in Europe.

In February 2015 the International Hospitality Management (IHM) programme at NHL Stenden Hotel Management School in the Netherlands was awarded the European Certification in the area of Quality in Internationalisation (CeQuInt). This recognition confirms NHL Stenden Hotel Management School as one of the top international hotel management schools in Europe. At the accreditation ceremony in Paris, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences was one of ten European institutions to be awarded the CeQuInt recognition. The CeQuInt panel was made up of the steering group of the European Consortium for Accreditation in Higher Education (ECA) and the Accreditation Organisation of The Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).

NHL Stenden’s IHM programme achieved excellent distinctions in two areas: International & Intercultural Learning and Teaching & Learning.

In the 2011 accreditation review, the programme was awarded distinctive feature in “Real World Learning”. Furthermore, the programme is internationally rated as one of the best and is known for its modern, innovative and dynamic education.

The programme has repeatedly been voted as number one by both students and experts in the field – which could explain why 96% of its graduates find a job within four months of graduation.

Programme start dates

You can start this programme in either September or February.

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