Guest Teacher from Tourism Industry to Tourism Vocational Schools (SMK) in Sumba
Writer: Adrianus Ubas, Programme Officer Field Office Sumba
Editor: Firra Kholisha Mustika, Communication
Tourism vocational high schools (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Pariwisata) have the objectives to prepare students to work in the tourism industry or to enter entrepreneurship. Therefore, there is the needs to have a synergy between the school and the industry. The schools should know the tourism industry needs, which then to be applied in the teaching methods. The tourism industry is expected to become a facilitator in providing learning facilities for training or practicing the knowledge obtained during school for students.
DESMA Center facilitates 2-day guest teacher activities from tourism industry for beneficiaries’ schools on 11-13 February 2023. The guest teacher for this activity is the manager of Hotel Sinar Tambolaka, Ms. Josephine Vindy Susanti. SMKS Efata received the first guest teacher visitation session. The activity was attended by 20 students from grade XI and XII majoring in Hospitality and 6 accompanying teachers. The second activity was held at SMKN 1 Waikabubak. The activity was attended by 72 grade XI students majoring in Hospitality and 5 accompanying teachers. The third activity was held at SMKN 2 Kota Tambolaka. The activity was attended by 24 grade X and XI students majoring in Hospitality. The fourth activity was held at SMKS Bakti Luhur. The activity was attended by 148 grade XI and XII students majoring in Hospitality and Culinary Arts.
As a hotelier or hospitality is part of the service industry, it is important to pay attention to discipline, attitude, and manners. This job will allow for more direct interaction with guests. Therefore, the appearance must be neat and the communication must be well-mannered.
Ms. Vindy provided brief simulations and practice sessions, aim of assisting the students to understand the case studies. The first simulation was for the Front Office division. The students practiced receiving guests to stay at the hotel; starting from greetings, preparing documents and room keys, to escorting guests to their rooms. The second simulation was in the food and beverage service division. Students practiced taking orders for individual and group guests. Through this activity, the students and productive teachers are expected to have a basic understanding and knowledge of the work culture in the hospitality industry.
The activity of Guest Teacher from Tourism Industry to Tourism Vocational Schools (SMK) in Sumba is part of the TVET for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sumba Program, implemented by DESMA Center.
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Program TVET for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sumba supported by MISEREOR/KZE; implemented by DESMA Center. Upgrading capacity of human resource on tourism inted to implement “vocation tourism school education program in Sumba in order to fulfilling needs and requirement on tourism industry, so it can offering better employment opportunity to youth and also supporting sustainable tourism in sumba.”
This program covering upgrading for (1) management capacity vocational tourism school reciprocal with merdeka curriculum and sustainable tourism concept; (2) teacher capacity in knowledge about pedagogy, teaching dan sustainable tourism (3)partnership tourism vocational school and tourism Industry (4) student entrepreneurship capacity for creating sustainable tourism business.
Beneficiaries for this program is (1) SMK Pancasila – Tambolaka, Sumba Barat Daya; (2) SMK Negeri 2 Kota Tambolaka, Sumba Barat Daya; (3) SMK Bakti Luhur – Tambolaka, Sumba Barat Daya; (4) SMK Efata - Omba Rade, Sumba Barat Daya; dan (5) SMK Negeri 1 Waikabubak, Sumba Barat. Partner for this program is (1) Nusa Tenggara Timur education and culture state authority; (2) Government Sumba Barat Daya regency; (3) Government Sumba Barat Regency; (4) Sumba Barat Daya Tourism Regency Authority; dan (5) Sumba Barat Tourism Regency Authority.
