THE School of Marketing, Tourism and Leisure at Edith Cowan University (ECU) won the Western Australian Award in 2001 for being the number one provider of tourism education in the state.
“The award was in recognition of the quality education and high standard of graduates who complete this programme,'' says ECU international and commercial manager T. Vasudavan.
Now Malaysian students will have a chance to study at ECU via Star Education Fund 2003. The university based in Perth is the first Australian varsity to contribute to the fund.
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AT YOUR SERVICE: The degree Restaurant at Edith Cowan University is a training facility managed and operated by students taking the Bachelor of Hospitality Management. |
ECU has pledged two awards – a scholarship for the third year of study and a three-year scholarship for the degree programme.
The awards are for:
· Bachelor of Hospitality Management/Bachelor of Tourism Management/Bachelor of Business (majoring in tourism or hospitality management (third year of study only) and either one of the following:
Western Australia's second largest university, ECU is named after the first woman elected to an Australian Parliament, It began as the Claremont Teachers College in 1902 and built a reputation as a teaching institute before gaining university status in 1991.
It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees through four major faculties: the Faculty of Business and Public Management; the Faculty of Community Services, Education and Social Sciences; the Faculty of Communications, Health and Science; and the world renowned Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts.
Hugh Jackman and Frances O’Connor are just two of the hugely successful talents to come out of the Academy which is the only national institution of its kind, offering full-time vocational courses in music, dance, theatre, broadcasting, musical theatre, arts management, production and design and the visual arts.
The School of Marketing, Tourism and Leisure is one of seven schools under the Business and Public Management Faculty. The other schools are Accounting, Finance and Business Economics, Justice and Business Law, Management, Management Information Systems.
The School boasts a purpose-built teaching facility – the Degree Restaurant. Located on the picturesque Joondalup campus, the restaurant is a training facility managed and operated by students taking the Bachelor of Hospitality Management.
The restaurant provides students with the opportunity to put the management theory they have learnt into practice, and to develop the technical skills necessary for a career in the food and beverage sector.
“Students who hold a recognised diploma or higher diploma in tourism or hospitality can apply for the scholarship, even if they have obtained the qualification a few years ago,” says Vasudavan.
ECU is renowned for its teaching and learning quality and has assumed a leading position in the practical application of new education technologies.
Its students either undertake their course through external study, or attend one of the University's five campuses. Four of the campuses are located within the Perth metropolitan area and one is at Bunbury, 180 kilometres south of Perth.
ECU has more than 20,000 students in over 160 courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
In addition to Australian students, the University has more than 1,600 international students who originate from more than 60 countries.
Over a quarter of ECU's student population study at the Business and Public Management Faculty which offeres a comprehensive mix of over 70 traditional and modern programmes.
Tourism is a growth industry, says Vasudavan, and this is one of the reasons ECU has opted to offer scholarships in hospitality-related disciplines.
“Joining the Fund is also part of our long-term commitment to our Malaysian education ties. This is the first scholarship that ECU has offered to overseas students. We are very serious about the Malaysian market.”
Vasudavan says that Perth also has much to offer Malaysian students.
“Firstly, it’s in the same time zone as Malaysia. It's also a very multicultural city, but with a relaxed environment and fantastic climate.”
This year promises to be an exciting one for ECU. Vasudavan says developments include the upgrading of the Joondalup campus.
Located in Perth's fastest growing metropolitan sector, the campus is part of a major educational precinct which includes the West Coast College of TAFE and the recently relocated Police Academy.
Students enjoy the benefits of a modern, purpose built tertiary campus with extensive state-of-the-art facilities including a multi-million dollar recreation centre.
Kangaroos can often be spotted on the campus grounds!
The main intake for ECU is in February, and students are encouraged to apply for the scholarships now. For more information, call 03-7967 1643. Application forms can be downloaded from http://thestar.com.my/education/colleges/scholarships.html
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