Nilai University College (Nilai UC) recently appointed veteran academic Dr Muhamad bin Muda as head of its School of Hospitality and Tourism. He talks of his past experiences and about the career prospects for students.
Nilai University College recently appointed veteran academic Dr Muhamad bin Muda to be Dean of its School of Hospitality and Tourism. Having been in this line for well over three decades, Dr Muhamad talks about his experiences and what he hopes to achieve at Nilai UC.
It was a time of mutton chop sideburns and bell-bottoms when Dr Muhamad bin Muda took his first tentative steps towards a career in hospitality and tourism in 1970. After completing his Diploma at ITM, he was picked to further his studies in the United Kingdom under the Colombo plan scholarship.
Dr Muhamad lectured for a few years upon his return before once again going overseas to further add to his expertise. This time his studies took him to the University of Massachusetts, USA for MSc in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel in 1979. Between 1983 and 1985, Dr Muhamad was in charge of development, marketing and planning as well as operations of the Desaru Resort project as tourism manager for the South East Johor Development Authority (Kejora). After a stint as Dean of School of Catering at UiTM, he left to pursue his PhD in Tourism at University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Upon his return in 1992, Dr Muhamad was asked to run UiTM’s training hotel which was the first of its kind in the country.
In 1997, Dr Muhamad was the Provost/Director of University Teknologi Mara’s Trengganu branch. He later served as Assistant Vice Chancellor in charge of quality assurance at UiTM and was also warded professorship before his retirement from public service in 2007.
After a short break, Dr Muhamad was asked to head Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism. Never one to rest on his laurels, Dr Muhamad took up the challenge. Here he discusses why school leavers should consider a career in hospitality and tourism as well as outlining some of his future plans for Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism.
Why would you encourage students to consider joining this industry?
For starters, tourism worldwide is booming. More people than ever before are travelling and their needs have to be catered to. Hence employment opportunities are growing ever larger. Compare the number of tourists with the 70s and 80s. The growth in Malaysia alone has been phenomenal. There are more hotels, tour guides and fine dining restaurants than ever before. Thus the demand for skilled manpower in these areas is very much on the rise.
Any particular programme you would like to highlight?
Yes, I believe the Diploma in Culinary Arts is a very useful qualification. Once you can cook, you have a skill that is valuable anywhere you go. Chefs have become very high profile in recent years and the employment prospects have broadened significantly over the years. Unlike in the past, chefs are no longer sweating it out just in the kitchens. Today, they are successful owner-restaurateurs, general managers of hotel chains and even interior designers. The scope has certainly widened.
I would also like to recommend students pursue a career in Hotel Management. This is because tourism is expanding all the time and there is tremendous opportunity at Nilai UC for Hotel Management students to pursue their studies with Oxford Brookes University (OBU), United Kingdom.
For example, STPM school leavers will require a minimum of three years to complete their OBU programme. Compare that with a SPM school leaver who has already completed his two-year Diploma in Hotel management programme at Nilai UC, the OBU degree will only take another two years.
To join OBU’s BA (Hons) in Business and Hospitality programme, a candidate must pass the English for International Opportunity (IELTS) examination with a minimum score of 6.0. But if you are a Nilai UC Diploma in Hotel Management holder, you are exempted from this requirement.
What advantages does Nilai UC have over other institutes of higher learning?
The major advantage Nilai UC has is that students can transfer their credits to Oxford Brookes University’s Hospitality and Business Degree programme which is offered locally. This represents a major saving in cost.
With Nilai UC’s Hospitality and Business Management course, students are getting a double major. Students will devote equal amounts of time on hospitality and business management. This broadens their scope of employment opportunity for our graduates. They thus have an added competitive edge when they are in the job market. And that’s not forgetting the prestige of an OBU 3+0 qualification. According to an independent survey undertaken by Taylor, Nelson & Sofres last year, OBU is ranked the sixth best Hospitality school in the world and the best in the UK.
Why did you come out of retirement to be Dean of Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism?
Firstly, I am very excited at the prospect of working together with OBU given their impeccable credentials. In all my years of experience, I can safely tell you that what OBU is offering via Nilai UC is not available elsewhere in Malaysia. It is also a continued learning curve for myself; what better way to learn than from the best in the business.
Furthermore, I knew Nilai UC had a very good reputation and has first class facilities. Nilai UC has its own 100-seater training restaurant, Flamme, which has a 5,460sq ft training kitchen. That’s probably the largest training kitchen in the country and includes a bakery, cold cut room and butchery. It is my intention to get as many students here to benefit from these great facilities under the tutelage of some very experienced lecturers.
Do you see the Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism growing bigger?
Of course, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think so. For example, the number of Culinary Arts students has doubled since its inception in 2005.
How does Nilai UC’s tuition fees compare to other schools?
Our tuition fees are very attractive as Nilai UC’s programmes are very competitively priced without sacrificing quality.
What part do you play with students’ placement?
We aide students with their applications for industrial training. In fact, Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism have one lecturer dedicated to helping our students secure internship. You can find our students and graduates working in places such as the Kuala Lumpur Hilton, Star Cruises, Westin and many more.
Are Nilai UC’s Hospitality and Tourism programmes recognised by the government?
Most definitely. All of Nilai UC’s syllabus is compliant with the standard set by Malaysian Qualifying Agency (formerly known as Lembaga Akreditasi Negara). Coupled with the first-class facilities and unique campus-style education, you will be guaranteed a learning experience that is second to none.
Nilai University College recently appointed veteran academic Dr Muhamad bin Muda to be Dean of its School of Hospitality and Tourism. Having been in this line for well over three decades, Dr Muhamad talks about his experiences and what he hopes to achieve at Nilai UC.
It was a time of mutton chop sideburns and bell-bottoms when Dr Muhamad bin Muda took his first tentative steps towards a career in hospitality and tourism in 1970. After completing his Diploma at ITM, he was picked to further his studies in the United Kingdom under the Colombo plan scholarship.
Dr Muhamad lectured for a few years upon his return before once again going overseas to further add to his expertise. This time his studies took him to the University of Massachusetts, USA for MSc in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel in 1979. Between 1983 and 1985, Dr Muhamad was in charge of development, marketing and planning as well as operations of the Desaru Resort project as tourism manager for the South East Johor Development Authority (Kejora). After a stint as Dean of School of Catering at UiTM, he left to pursue his PhD in Tourism at University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Upon his return in 1992, Dr Muhamad was asked to run UiTM’s training hotel which was the first of its kind in the country.
In 1997, Dr Muhamad was the Provost/Director of University Teknologi Mara’s Trengganu branch. He later served as Assistant Vice Chancellor in charge of quality assurance at UiTM and was also warded professorship before his retirement from public service in 2007.
After a short break, Dr Muhamad was asked to head Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism. Never one to rest on his laurels, Dr Muhamad took up the challenge. Here he discusses why school leavers should consider a career in hospitality and tourism as well as outlining some of his future plans for Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism.
Why would you encourage students to consider joining this industry?
For starters, tourism worldwide is booming. More people than ever before are travelling and their needs have to be catered to. Hence employment opportunities are growing ever larger. Compare the number of tourists with the 70s and 80s. The growth in Malaysia alone has been phenomenal. There are more hotels, tour guides and fine dining restaurants than ever before. Thus the demand for skilled manpower in these areas is very much on the rise.
Any particular programme you would like to highlight?
Yes, I believe the Diploma in Culinary Arts is a very useful qualification. Once you can cook, you have a skill that is valuable anywhere you go. Chefs have become very high profile in recent years and the employment prospects have broadened significantly over the years. Unlike in the past, chefs are no longer sweating it out just in the kitchens. Today, they are successful owner-restaurateurs, general managers of hotel chains and even interior designers. The scope has certainly widened.
I would also like to recommend students pursue a career in Hotel Management. This is because tourism is expanding all the time and there is tremendous opportunity at Nilai UC for Hotel Management students to pursue their studies with Oxford Brookes University (OBU), United Kingdom.
For example, STPM school leavers will require a minimum of three years to complete their OBU programme. Compare that with a SPM school leaver who has already completed his two-year Diploma in Hotel management programme at Nilai UC, the OBU degree will only take another two years.
To join OBU’s BA (Hons) in Business and Hospitality programme, a candidate must pass the English for International Opportunity (IELTS) examination with a minimum score of 6.0. But if you are a Nilai UC Diploma in Hotel Management holder, you are exempted from this requirement.
What advantages does Nilai UC have over other institutes of higher learning?
The major advantage Nilai UC has is that students can transfer their credits to Oxford Brookes University’s Hospitality and Business Degree programme which is offered locally. This represents a major saving in cost.
With Nilai UC’s Hospitality and Business Management course, students are getting a double major. Students will devote equal amounts of time on hospitality and business management. This broadens their scope of employment opportunity for our graduates. They thus have an added competitive edge when they are in the job market. And that’s not forgetting the prestige of an OBU 3+0 qualification. According to an independent survey undertaken by Taylor, Nelson & Sofres last year, OBU is ranked the sixth best Hospitality school in the world and the best in the UK.
Why did you come out of retirement to be Dean of Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism?
Firstly, I am very excited at the prospect of working together with OBU given their impeccable credentials. In all my years of experience, I can safely tell you that what OBU is offering via Nilai UC is not available elsewhere in Malaysia. It is also a continued learning curve for myself; what better way to learn than from the best in the business.
Furthermore, I knew Nilai UC had a very good reputation and has first class facilities. Nilai UC has its own 100-seater training restaurant, Flamme, which has a 5,460sq ft training kitchen. That’s probably the largest training kitchen in the country and includes a bakery, cold cut room and butchery. It is my intention to get as many students here to benefit from these great facilities under the tutelage of some very experienced lecturers.
Do you see the Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism growing bigger?
Of course, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think so. For example, the number of Culinary Arts students has doubled since its inception in 2005.
How does Nilai UC’s tuition fees compare to other schools?
Our tuition fees are very attractive as Nilai UC’s programmes are very competitively priced without sacrificing quality.
What part do you play with students’ placement?
We aide students with their applications for industrial training. In fact, Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism have one lecturer dedicated to helping our students secure internship. You can find our students and graduates working in places such as the Kuala Lumpur Hilton, Star Cruises, Westin and many more.
Are Nilai UC’s Hospitality and Tourism programmes recognised by the government?
Most definitely. All of Nilai UC’s syllabus is compliant with the standard set by Malaysian Qualifying Agency (formerly known as Lembaga Akreditasi Negara). Coupled with the first-class facilities and unique campus-style education, you will be guaranteed a learning experience that is second to none.
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