THE Glion Institute of Higher Education at Montreux, a well-known hospitality management university in Switzerland, has introduced the world's first fully accredited online MBA in the field of International Hospitality Management, which it said serves the unique needs of working professionals in hospitality, tourism and related service industries. This institution is a part of Laureate International Universities, a global network of higher education institutions that offers campus-based and online degrees around the globe in nearly 21 countries. “Education is going through a transformation in Saudi Arabia. Now there are several options available for higher education here,” said Dr. Mukhtar Khan, regional director and education consultant of Saudi Arabia Intercontinental Education. “For those who want to pursue a career in hospitality management, hotel management or tourism management, there are many options available in Saudi Arabia.” He added that the hospitality industry is the top employer in the world. “Even if you only consider Saudi Arabia, there is great potential in the hospitality industry, which does not only consist of serving in hotels and washing dishes; it is a very vast field. It includes events management, sports management, entertainment management and culinary arts. “It is used in the aviation industry, the banking sector, education, healthcare industry and other areas. In a nutshell, I can say that wherever there are people, there is hospitality” Earlier, hospitality was only confined to the hotel and tourism industries, but it is now a part of many other fields and Glion is positioned well to educate those who are interested in careers in hospitality management, Dr. Khan said. “Glion is among the top three hospitality schools in the world for students who seek an international career,” he said. “Some of the top CEOs in the hospitality industry around the world are Glion alumni.” Glion started its online MBA program last year. The hospitality industry, which is expanding in Saudi Arabia, is one of the most promising sectors for creating employment opportunities. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities has estimated that the tourism industry will directly and indirectly provide more than 1.4 million jobs by the year 2020. It is estimated that by 2014, total direct employment in the tourism industry will reach more than 460,000 and indirect employment will reach more than 692,000. Saudi nationals represent only 15 percent of total employment in the industry and there is a need to train about 265,000 Saudis by the year 2020 in order to meet requirements. It is estimated that 48 educational and training institutions will be needed by that time. One can only imagine the magnitude of employment opportunities available in this sector within the Kingdom for Saudis and expatriates. Fee schedule and course structure This program started in August, the marketing campaign for Saudi Arabia started in January and student enrollment will begin in May, Dr. Khan said. The fee for the flexible, three-year program is SR112,500; there is a possibility of payment in two installments. For more details about the program and its course structure, contact local Gilon representatives in Jeddah or Riyadh.
