Ascott Centre for Excellence Offers Direct Degree Path for WSQ Diploma Students

Students pursuing a Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Diploma in Tourism (Accommodation Management) at the Ascott Centre for Excellence (ACE) hospitality training centre, can now enjoy a direct path to a recognised business degree programme from James Cook University (JCU).

ACE has entered into an articulation agreement with JCU, becoming the first Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centre for the Hotel & Accommodation Services sector appointed by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to offer such a pathway to a degree course.

ACE is currently the first and only CET Centre that is run by a hospitality company, and specialises in training for the Hotel & Accommodation Services sector. It offers the full range of WSQ hospitality training programmes, from Certificate, Advanced Certificate to Diploma levels, to the public.

JCU is ranked amongst the world’s top 4% of universities based on a 2013 academic ranking of world universities. The new agreement will allow graduates of ACE’s WSQ Diploma in Tourism (Accommodation Management) to receive credit exemptions when enrolling for a Bachelor of Business programme with JCU Australia or JCU Singapore. ACE’s WSQ Diploma graduates can receive up to 21 credit points out of 72 credits for the programme.

“With tourists today becoming increasingly well-travelled and sophisticated, our tourism workforce needs to further raise its professionalism and skills. We are therefore pleased that the WSQ system, which has been widely adopted by the industry to build a multi-skilled workforce, is now given greater recognition by Institutes of Higher Learning through an articulation pathway. Through this articulation between Ascott Centre for Excellence and James Cook University, our WSQ Diploma graduates will have greater access to a degree programme to prepare themselves for a successful career in the tourism industry,” said Ms Janice Foo, Director, Tourism Division, WDA.

Mr Tony Soh, Ascott’s Chief Corporate Officer, said, “ACE is committed to providing continuing education and grooming hospitality talents for the industry. Our trainers have many years of hospitality experience and they share actual operational situations and best practices, going beyond theory to ensure the participants understand the latest trends and developments in the industry. Since 2008, we have trained more than 5,000 students that include fresh school graduates, mid-career entrants to the hospitality industry and industry professionals looking to upgrade their skills. Many of our students have expressed a desire to further their education and our partnership with a leading university such as JCU offers them a seamless pathway to earn their degree and advance their career.”

Mr Soh added, “Besides being a CET Centre, ACE is the global hospitality training centre of Ascott. Apart from training Ascott’s employees across its operations worldwide, ACE has also trained many students from top international hotels in Singapore. Our WSQ programmes equip participants with in-depth skills and knowledge to excel in the hospitality industry, including areas like finance and budget planning, marketing strategies, business development, human resource and guest service management.”

Dr Dale Anderson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of Campus, JCU Singapore, said, “The hospitality industry in Singapore is a significant employer and ACE is committed to improving the skills of the hospitality workforce. Forging this relationship with ACE represents an excellent opportunity to further upgrade the qualifications of those working in the hospitality industry. JCU’s business degree equips our students with skills that meet the demands of the dynamic and constantly evolving world of business and hospitality. This includes developing communication and engagement skills, building networks, taking a commercial mindset, understanding project management and mastering critical thinking and problem solving.”

ACE’s WSQ Diploma in Tourism (Accommodation Management) is currently open for enrolment.