V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE), Goa’s
leading hospitality institute played host to a team of international students
from various hospitality schools operated and managed by Turismo de Portugal.
The month long programme aims at promoting professional knowledge and cultural
integration in the field of Hospitality and Tourism both in Portugal and India
and is part of an agreement signed between the two nations.
The institute earlier signed a significant Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with Turismo de Portugal. The MOU was signed by Dattaraj V.
Salgaocar, Chairman of VMSIIHE, and Mr. Luis Araújo, President of Turismo de
Portugal, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa while
he was in Goa on a state visit last year.
“We at VMSIIHE were absolutely delighted to forge an alliance
with Turismo de Portugal last year. Portugal has a vibrant tourism culture.
Together we can collaborate and enhance the quality of education we offer to
our students We worked closely with the student delegation from Portugal and
offered them a peek into the rich culinary and cultural heritage of India and
Goa in particular,” said Professor Irfan Mirza, Director, V.M Salgaocar
Institute of International Hospitality Education.
Professor Irfan Mirza, Director of V. M. Salgaocar Institute of
International Hospitality Education led the efforts in forging collaboration
between the two nations.
“Portugal has left a strong impression on Goa which is visible
in the architecture, culture, cuisine and habits of the people. When the Prime
Minister of Portugal António Costa was on a state visit to Goa last year, we
signed this significant agreement which was a great moment for us. Our students
visited Portugal and experienced the warmth and hospitality which offered to
them during their stay. We were delighted to host the Portuguese student
delegation at VMSIIHE. We hope the students carry back a wealth of knowledge
and fond memories of Goa back with them,” said Dattaraj Salgaocar, Chairman, V.
M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education.
A detailed schedule was chalked out by the institute to offer
the students the best of culinary experience combined with educational field
trips to give them a taste of Goan culture, history and hospitality.
The students attended sessions on Indian cuisine such as
Kashmiri, Goan, Rajasthani, Maharashtrian, Punjabi, Goan Saraswat, Kerala,
Parsi and Hydrabadi cuisine. Showmanship and a session on Irish Coffee making
gave an opportunity to the students to exhibit their culinary skills.
The
knowledge exchange programme between the two countries include collaborative
effort in the fields of research, trainings, teaching-learning methods and
other aspects over the next two years. The exchange programme is one of many
such initiatives.ts and faculty. Additionally the institute also organised a
cultural program for the students that included local festivals like carnival
and tours of Goa’s popular churches, temples, beaches and even rivers, before
they returned back.
