The MoA aims to bring together the expertise of Pakistan’s leading business school at NUST, and Serena Hotels as a leading hospitality brand, to offer women graduates of NBS a valuable training opportunity for hands-on experiential learning and training in the field of hospitality management in a structured and professional setting
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Serena Hotels signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to induct female graduates from NUST Business School (NBS) into the Serena Management Trainee Programme.
Engr. Javed Mahmood Bukhari HI (M), Rector of NUST, graced the MoA signing ceremony along with the Pro-Rectors and the Dean of NBS, and representatives of the business and hospitality sectors.
The MoA aims to bring together the expertise of Pakistan’s leading business school at NUST, and Serena Hotels as a leading hospitality brand, to offer women graduates of NBS a valuable training opportunity for hands-on experiential learning and training in the field of hospitality management in a structured and professional setting. The one-year programme will provide the Management Trainees with immersive learning to equip them with a holistic view of the business, as well as understanding the inter-relationships between different functional departments. The training is envisaged as an accelerated pathway that will help unlock their advancement to higher-level management positions in the industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Aziz Boolani, CEO Serena Hotels South and Central Asia, said that the number of female professionals in the hospitality sector is traditionally low. As a leading hotel chain, Serena Hotels makes every effort to encourage women in their professional development for assuming higher positions, including the leadership role. There is no doubt that companies can deliver greater business impact and be more competitive by fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace for women and men.
Mr. Boolani added that Serena Hotels is the recipient of the Employer of Choice for Gender Balance and Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) Certification by International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank. The Company is also a member of the Male Champion of Change (MCC) coalition – a global initiative working towards achieving gender equality in the workplace.
“Our country has immense potential in tourism. High-quality education and training programmes can expose professionals, especially women, to world class training so they can lead the country to excellence in the hospitality sector,” said Engr. Javed Mahmood Bukhari HI(M) in his remarks on the occasion.
Mr. Aziz Boolani expressed his gratitude to the Rector NUST, the Dean of NUST Business School Dr. Naukhez Sarwar and the Serena team for making the collaboration possible.
