10 students at the University of Finnmark have received a head start in the job hunting queue after they have completed training in the professional hotel management program PMI.

Since 26 October, 10 students at the University College of Finnmark managed their own hotel using the online computer program PMI. Today, 65 percent of all hotels in Norway are using PMI, but it’s the first time that an educational program in Norway offers this training to students. PMI keeps track of room bookings, budgeting, forecasting, accounting, staffing, procurement of food and drink and everything else that the hotel management must keep track to operate as efficiently as possible.

Impressed with the students

– It has been very educational and informative, said student Lana Stock (21). She and the other fellow students were first trained, then ran, their own hotel for two weeks.

– In fact, they managed a real hotel that is in operation today. We collected data from five hotels in Europe, including Rica, Thon and two other chain hotels, as well as individual hotels. Students were told which hotel they ran, says Chief Education Officer at d2o, Kjell Gangdal. His daily occupation is to educate hotel managers around the world in the use of PMI. He is impressed with the students’ efforts.

– They have been very clever and have operated hotels exceeding all expectations, he said. To motivate students to use PMI the school had a competition where the best “Hotel Manager” among students receive a trip to a big hotel in Brussels to see how PMI is used to organize the operation.

– It has been a close competition and the students have really worked hard, “said Gangdal. But it was tourism student Trine Møller (24) from London who drew the longest straw. – It has been incredibly exciting to get an insight into hotel management, she says. In the months of January / February she is going to Brussels. – It is very exciting, “she says and looks forward to the journey.

Should have it in your CV

– To teach students PMI is a really good initiative from the school, continues Møller. This spring she finished her bachelor’s degree in tourism. She will be applying for jobs, and she has plans to use the course diploma actively in the job application process. The same scenario with Lana Stock, which will receive a bachelor’s degree in hotel administration.

– This course will be added to my CV. I am very proud to know PMI. This is a boost for us that these students entered the program, she said. Silje Kjellmo Johansson (24) from Kirkenes currently works at Thon Hotel in Alta at the front desk while studying. She sees only the benefits of being able to use and understand PMI, for it is a tough competition to get jobs in hotel industry. – Today there are only two persons at Thon in Alta that know PMI, and now I know as well, she smiles and thinks this gives her a head start in her career.

Will continue the scheme

Arild Røkenes department head at the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Media Studies, is pleased to hear the positive feedback from students. – Experiences so far are entirely positive – the students have demonstrated that theoretical knowledge can be translated into practical skills and they have also been tested in their leadership skills. It has been gratifying to observe such a high commitment from the students and not least that the results are to be proud of.

Teachers at the course have a clear goal to continue the scheme, this is also an obvious desire of the industry to utilize this knowledge. We thank Rica hotels Finnmark which have made the pilot project possible through financial support, “said Røkenes.

– I hope that the college will continue to provide this service to students. This is one of the most practice-oriented courses I have had over the years I have studied here, “says Lana Stock, who is from St. Petersburg, Russia. Now she focuses on a career in the hotel industry. – I have already hung my diploma on the wall, she boasts proudly.

• Source article in Norwegian: Høgskolen i Finnmark, 26/11/2010 24:25 posted by Inger Elin Utsi