Dreams into diplomas: Patina Maldives empowers team members via world-class hospitality education

At 18, Ali Shiyaz made a choice shaped more by circumstance than desire. He left school behind and stepped into the world of resort work—not for adventure, but for survival. Education would have to wait. A decade later, dressed in a graduation gown instead of a staff uniform, Shiyaz stood in the library of Patina Maldives, visibly moved. His dream—nurtured quietly in the corners of busy kitchens and behind service counters—had finally come true.

“I remember so clearly, back when I first joined Adaaran Resorts Maldives, my biggest dream was to get into the One&Only apprenticeship,” he said. “It was the only one I knew of back then.”

Today, Shiyaz holds a diploma issued by Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), the world’s top-ranked hospitality management school. And he’s not alone.

Twelve Patina Maldives team members recently completed their foundation and diploma programmes in Food & Beverage and Rooms Division, thanks to a unique Vocational Education and Training (VET) initiative facilitated by the resort in partnership with EHL. This is the first time an international-level vocational course of this standard has been offered in the Maldives resort environment, marking a significant milestone for the country’s hospitality industry.

For these graduates, Patina Maldives became more than just a workplace—it became a classroom, a support system, and, in many ways, a second home.

A Resort, a School, a Second Chance

Numa Ibrahim, a Rooms Division graduate and colleague of Shiyaz, faced her own challenges. At one point in her life, she too had to halt her education. The opportunity at Patina was a second chance—and one she embraced fully, even during pregnancy.

“I got pregnant while I was taking the course,” she said. “It was difficult to manage everything, but I didn’t stop. I continued studying online during maternity leave. I even took my exams online.”

Numa credits Patina’s supportive environment for making it all possible. “The management deserves so much respect,” she said. “They didn’t just allow us time to study—they encouraged us.”

EHL courses are demanding, requiring up to eight hours of classes twice a week. But Patina treated those days as regular workdays, ensuring participants were not penalised for prioritising their education.

“If someone had to miss a session for personal reasons, the leaders would reschedule the class during their working hours,” Numa said. “That kind of flexibility and support made all the difference.”

A Golden Dozen: Graduates of the 2024 VET Programme

The inaugural batch of Patina’s VET graduates includes six students in each of the two diploma specialisations:

Food & Beverage:

• Catherine Chung Hui Ling
• Mohamed Ishan Ahmed
• Ali Shiyaz
• Mohamed Aiman
• Rubina Dhaamee
• Ali Anshah Ibrahim

Rooms Division:

• Mohamed Miras
• Numa Ibrahim Rasheed
• Ibrahim Shoobaan
• Hussain Ali
• Abdullah Hassan
• Ali Amir

Their achievements were celebrated in a heartfelt graduation ceremony held at the Patina Maldives this week. Shiyaz and Numa delivered speeches, reflecting on their journey—from struggling to present in front of a group to confidently addressing an entire audience.

“We were nervous during our first presentation,” Shiyaz recalled. “I was cold, trembling. We prayed the projector wouldn’t crash.” But over three years, late nights, peer support, and countless practice sessions helped transform their anxiety into quiet confidence.

More Than Technical Skills

While the curriculum covered the expected modules—operations, mathematics, food service standards—it also provided valuable life lessons. Graduates say they learned how to manage time, collaborate under pressure, and lead with empathy. They practiced soft skills just as much as technical ones.

From understanding equipment maintenance to mastering the art of guest interaction, the training went beyond textbooks. “Every interaction with a guest, every challenge we faced at work—these became part of our learning,” said Numa.

They also learned how to support each other. The cohort developed a bond that turned classmates into lifelong friends, and Patina into more than a workplace.

A Message for the Future

The initiative holds a powerful message for aspiring professionals across the Maldives: resort life does not have to mean the end of education.

“Some young people may think their learning journey is over when they start working in resorts,” said Numa. “But there are so many opportunities, like this one. Resort life is not the end of studying—it’s just the beginning.”

The VET programme at Patina Maldives is not only transforming the careers of its graduates but also setting a new standard for hospitality training in the country. As the Maldives positions itself as a global leader in luxury tourism, initiatives like these help ensure the nation’s greatest asset—its people—continue to grow with the industry.

For Shiyaz, Numa, and their fellow graduates, the diplomas they now proudly hold are more than certificates. They are symbols of perseverance, support, and dreams that refused to fade.