The department of hospitality and business studies is the largest in the institution offering over 20 different courses at artisan, certificate and diploma level. All these courses are offered under different exams bodies such as KNEC, ICM, and KASNEB. The department constitutes the following sub-departments; Hospitality, Business Studies, Secretarial Studies, Clearing and Forwarding, Community Development, Languages, and KASNEB.
The greatest asset of the department is its highly motivated and learned lecturers. The available diversity of expertise of the lecturers with the support of the other staff prepares the students to work in a highly competitive and dynamic business environment both locally and internationally.
Achievements
Over the last year, the department has recorded a constant growth rate with the number of students increasing every day. This has been attributed to our students’ good performance in their external exams which has increased the referral rate and reduced cases of students dropouts and transfers.
Every year we produce highly competent graduates who are absorbed immediately in the highly competitive job market. Our hospitality students can secure jobs in one of the biggest hotels whereby they work in the following areas; areas such as food and beverage, hotel and catering, housekeeping and accommodation among other areas both locally and internationally. We have produced many students from the business department who are working in the business sector in the following areas; clearing and forwarding Marketing, Human Resource, Procurement, and Accounting.
We have also introduced artisan courses in the following areas; Food and Beverage, Salesmanship and Storekeeping. This has enabled those students who scored less than D plus in their KCSE exams to begin from Artisan, Craft, Diploma, Higher Diploma, and Degree up to doctorate level.
Exit programs
We also work in liaison with key players of the industry which increases the rate at which our students are absorbed in the industry. With our industry liaison officer, we maintain close contact with employers which enables us to secure employment for our students even before they complete their studies. We also help work very hard to make sure that our students can get the industrial attachment.
Co-curriculum activities
Our students are actively involved in out of class activities like sports, engagement in charitable activities (such as a visit to the orphans, cleaning the environment), and music and drama festivals. We also organize academic trips to the various parts of the country such as Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu at least once per term. This creates an exposure as during that time our students can meet key players in the industry.
The uniqueness of our courses
The department offers courses that are demand-driven to meet the changing dynamics of the business environment.
The department produces a skilled labor force with a high level of integrity to meet the challenges of the dynamic business environment.
Learners are equipped with the modern Business Management and Hospitality skills necessary to solve complex organizational problems in areas such as Food and Beverage, Hotel and Catering, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Management of Human Resources, Management, Banking, and Financial Services.
Our plans
Currently, we accommodate two types of programs i.e. regular and evening programs. However, we have introduced an early morning program to accommodate those students who are not able to attend day time and evening classes.
There is also a plan to introduce weekend program whereby classes will be running on Saturday and Sunday only to accommodate those students who can’t make it during weekdays.
We also plan to introduce the E-learning module for those students who are not able to fit on the above programs.
Final remarks
Here in Nairobi Aviation College, we teach, nurture, create innovative and entrepreneurial minds that prepares our students to fit in the current and future complex and the highly competitive job market.