Villa College, Universal Foundation mark Discover Hospitality graduation and launch new batches
Villa College and Universal Foundation have marked a new milestone in the Discover Hospitality programme, celebrating the graduation of its latest hospitality and culinary arts students while formally launching new batches under the initiative aimed at preparing Maldivian youth for careers in tourism.
The ceremony, held at the Islamic Centre hall on Wednesday, was attended by Minister of Education Dr Ismail Shafeeu as chief guest.
Certificates were presented to 18 students who completed Certificate Level 3 in Hospitality and six students who completed Certificate Level 3 in Culinary Arts. The graduating students represented the seventh batch of the hospitality programme and the second batch of the culinary arts programme.
The event also saw the official launch of the eighth batch of Certificate Level 3 in Hospitality and the third batch of Certificate Level 3 in Culinary Arts. The new intake consists of 20 students in the hospitality course and 10 students in the culinary arts course.
Sponsorship letters were presented to the incoming students during the ceremony. Letters for culinary arts students were presented by Villa College Rector Dr Ahmed Anwar and Ali Shareef, Director of the Centre for Foundation Studies and Acting Dean of the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Experiential Industries.
Letters for hospitality students were presented by Visha Mahir, Director of Universal Enterprises and CEO of Versa Hospitality, and Ali Adam, Director of Human Resources at Versa Hospitality and Vice President of Universal Foundation.
The event also featured a panel discussion with tourism industry professionals. The session was moderated by Ali Ahsan, Human Resources Manager at Baros Maldives. Panellists included Zana Ziyad, HR Executive at Velassaru Maldives; Fathimath Laya, Food and Beverage Hostess at Kurumba Maldives; and Mohamed Visam, Front Office Manager at Huvafen Fushi Maldives.
Launched in 2017, Discover Hospitality is a joint initiative by Villa College and Universal Foundation, with the objective of developing skilled Maldivian youth for the tourism sector. The programme is fully funded by Universal Foundation.
The Certificate Level 3 in Hospitality course covers three core areas of tourism operations: front office, housekeeping, and food and beverage services. The Certificate Level 3 in Culinary Arts course, introduced in 2024, provides students with the knowledge and practical skills required to work in a professional kitchen, including food safety and menu planning.
The courses are structured to include 20 per cent theory and 80 per cent practical training. Theory classes are conducted at Villa College, while practical training takes place at Universal resorts. Each student receives a monthly allowance of MVR 3,000 from their training resort during the course.
The programme is open to applicants from across the Maldives. Students are selected following interviews conducted by a technical team from Universal Foundation and Villa College. The courses are taught by professionals with advanced qualifications in the relevant fields.
To date, 164 students across seven batches have completed the hospitality course, while 15 students across two batches have graduated from the culinary arts course.
According to programme statistics, 65 per cent of students who participated in the programme last year are currently employed, with most working in the tourism industry. A further 10 per cent are pursuing higher education.
Villa College, Universal Foundation and Versa Hospitality said the programme remains focused on preparing Maldivian youth for employment in the tourism sector and creating career opportunities for young people across the country.
