The Maldives National University’s (MNU) Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (FHTS) has been awarded ‘Indian Ocean’s Best Culinary Training Institution’ at World Culinary Awards 2021.
The win was announced on World Culinary Award’s website last Tuesday.
Three other institutions from two countries competed with FHTS for the same award; Culinary Master and Olivier Culinary School from Mauritius and Tourism Academy from Seychelles. In last year, the win was grabbed by Olivier Culinary School.
World Culinary Awards is the sister event of World Travel Awards – introduced last year to celebrate and reward excellence in the culinary industry. It is one of the most prestigious international culinary awards in existence.
It was announced that MNU’s FHTS was nominated as ‘Indian Ocean’s Best Culinary Training Institution’ back in May. Voting for nominees was open until September 17.
After being nominated, FHTS launched a marketing campaign to increase votes. MNU said that in addition to students and employees from the University, a large number of people from the public had voted for them.
Following the win, FHTS’ Dean Zeenath Solih said that it is with great pride to have been the first Maldivian institution to win an international award in the culinary industry.
She also thanked the University’s senior management, faculties, centers and campus heads, employees, students and well-wishers who contributed to ensuring the win.
Expressing hopes of scoring the award next year as well, Zeenath said that the Faculty will ensure that the highest quality of training and education is provided for its students.
Established in 1987, MNU’s FHTS is the largest and oldest institution training and educating people in the field of tourism in the Maldives.
At present, there are over 600 students studying in the Faculty. Areas taught at the Faculty include housekeeping, front office, patisserie, culinary arts, tour guiding, tourism, and hospitality management from certificate level to master’s degree.