The University of Queensland’s School of Tourism and business partners Club Training Australia and Dickson Wohlsen Strategies have joined forces to bring Korean students to Brisbane.
School of Tourism lecturer Dr Timothy Lee was present at the signing of a memorandum of understanding that will result in more than 100 Korean trainees come in each year for specialist training and education in hospitality.
Dr Lee said Korea was now one of the strongest markets for Australia’s growing education and training sector.
``Australia is regarded as a professional environment for training and education so the Korean Government has selected Queensland as a suitable training environment for these trainees,’’ Dr Lee said.
The Korean Government is sponsoring trainees in commercial cooking and hospitality, he said.
Trainees will receive intensive formal training for three months in some of Australia’s best facilities, before trying to gain work experience in clubs, hotels and restaurants.
Dr Lee and School of Tourism colleague Richard Robinson conduct lectures as part of the training.
Club Training Australia managing director John Dickson the memorandum of understanding was an exciting one for his Indooroopilly organisation, with trainees due to start arriving in Brisbane in May.
``This is a major win for our company and for Queensland as an exported of training and education,’’ he said.
``To have a major economy like Korea acknowledge our expertise in this area is wonderful. It’s a far cry from the days when Australia was better known for its cultural cringe value. Now we are internationally recognised.’’
Media: Timothy Lee (0438 771 756) or Erik de Wit (0417 088 772)
