Dr Achieng Ongong'a, The Managing Director of Kenya Tourist Board was the chief guest at the launch

Although the tourism industry is a leading contributor to the economy, there is no research and development institute to provide it with  professional guidance, says Dr Ongong'a Achieng, the Managing Director of Kenya Tourist Board (KTB). Dr Ongong'a said this while presiding the launch of Strathmore University's School of Hospitality and Tourism (SSTH) on Friday, 15th August at Serena Hotel.

Dr Ongong'a called for closer collaboration between the tourism industry and academia. “One of the objectives of SSTH is to build a dynamic information base for industry and academia through research and development,” said Mr Joe Wadawi, the Dean of SSTH.

SSTH has designed four programmes. These are a 4-year Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism (Hospitality Management), a 4-year Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism (Tourism Management), a 2-year  Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism for industry practitioners holding diplomas in either tourism or hospitality and want to upgrade to degree level, and Executive Management Development Programmes.

Classes for the four year programmes started in July and the 2-year bachelors programme classes will begin in September while the Executive Management Programmes will begin in March 2009.

SSTH aims to produce graduates with a local grounding and skills to enable them work anywhere in the world. The programs have a strong ethics and management emphasis. They will also be IT savvy. International languages are another key feature of the programmes. Students in SSTH can pursue a number of international languages. These include French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

The School's programs have been developed in collaboration with the industry, the government and academia. And to oversee the School's activities is an advisory board comprised of leading personalities from the local and international academia and industry. The members of the board are Mr Jan Mohammed, Managing Director, TPS Serena Group;  Dr Ongong'a Achieng, Managing Director, Kenya Tourist Board; Prof Nerine C. Bresler, Professor of Tourism, University of Johannesburg;  Mr Gerson McAndrew Misumi GM/Director, The Carnivore (Tamarind Group); Prof Eleri Jones, Professor of Tourism, University of Wales, Cardiff; Stanley Turkel, Hospitality Consultant, Kew Garden Hills, New York; Dr Lars Lindkvist,  Executive Director and Chairman - Basecamp Explorers, Kenya and CEO, Basecamp Foundation; Prof Alan Seidman, Professor of Hospitality at Johnson & Wales University in Miami; Dr Florence Oloo, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University; and Mr Joe Wadawi, the  School Dean, and Secretary to the Advisory Board.

The 2007 Economic Survey revealed that Kenya's Gross Domestic Product expanded by 6.1% in 2006. The key sector supporting this growth was hotels and restaurants with a growth of 14.9% from KSh 48.9 billion in 2005 to KSh 56.2 billion in 2006. Tourism is one of the six pillars for growth under the Vision 2030.

Presentations

STH Dean's remarks at the launch