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Deon, Victoria University
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Deon Brown from India won a Masters scholarship from the International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education(THE-ICE) and Victoria University (VU) in Melbourne. He chose to study a Master of Business in Hotel Management which takes one and a half years to complete. The course aims to develop the analytical and research skills of actual and potential managers to enable them to better manage within a corporate environment.
Deon is from Kolkata, India where he was schooled. “My father’s preference was for me to pursue IT studies, but I decided that’s not where my real interest lies. I don’t like to be stuck to the computer. I like to get out, travel and meet different people,” he said.
He has also completed a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism and Hotel Administration in Thailand. “I am very interested in hospitality and its international aspects. That’s why I chose to study the Master of Business in Hospitality Management in Australia. I think there are a lot of opportunities to develop the hotel industry in India, and I would love to be involved in this when I get back to India. When I have enough money, I’d like to set-up a foundation to fund an education institution in West Bengal to train restaurant and catering staff for the workforce there”.
On studying at VU Deon said, “If you go down to Victoria University, you’ll see many nation’s students just engaging in activities, joking around, mixing well, which is what I like at our university, especially in tourism where you need to build your network, which is the key issue over here”.
“The (VU) program is very encouraging. The focus is more accentuated on practical projects, critical and analytical thinking, and creativity. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively on projects, thus making them prepared to meet the challenges of the real world. This system of education is student centred, where students are allowed a sense of ownership with their assignments, compared to the traditional lecture method and note-taking, which makes learning boring, if it takes place everyday”.
Commenting on Deon’s course, Professor Brian King, Director of Making VU, said “the fact that it’s a Master of Business means it’s a highly adaptable qualification that develops both administrative and practical skills, including actual restaurant management at VU’s Cityscape Training Restaurant”.
Since completing his studies at VU, Deon has undertaken a course in Training and Assessment Certificate IV to become a trainer in the Hospitality Industry and is working at PSG Australia in Melbourne. He conducts training for international students in Diploma of Hospitality Management. He has gained various skills in training and assessing students and teaching methods. "As both my parents, Mr and Mrs Brown, are teachers in Thailand, it seems to be my destiny to become a teacher as well. I enjoy it very much and can see my career building rapidly from this moment.", said Deon.
Deon further added, "I think that's the highlight since I completed my Degree in VU and all thanks to THE-ICE for giving me the opportunity." |
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