Employment: The first batch of 75 graduates trained in hotel management at the Yarab Institute for Hospitality Management (YIHM) in Thimphu are already employed in various tourist standard hotels around the country.

The institute has trained 50 private candidates and 125 in-service candidates under the Student Empowerment through Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) programme. Currently, 132 trainees are undergoing the training at the institute in food production, front office, housekeeping and food and beverage.

It took only some three months for 26-year-old Ghanesh Shyam Dahal to find his dream job as a front office manager at Hotel Tara Phendeyling in Thimphu.

Trained in front office and reservation, Ghanesh Shyam Dahal topped his department with 92 percent in final exams. “I always had interest in this sector. I wanted to upgrade my skills and this was the perfect opportunity for me,” he said.

Along with Ghanesh Shyam Dahal, eight more graduates from the institute are employed with the same hotel.

The graduates were trained in food production, food and beverage, front office and housekeeping.

After working for a certain period with one of the private companies in Thimphu, 27-year-old Renuka Gurung has found her interest in commercial cooking.

The 2013 graduate from India now works with the bakery department at Le Meridian, Thimphu. “The course helped us upscale our knowledge in hotel management,” said Renuka Gurung. “Besides a brighter future, I believe I landed up in a very good job for myself.”

The group were trained under the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) Programme of the labour ministry. The programme is part of the Guaranteed Employment Programme.

YIHM’s principal Kesang Dorji said that although the institute was  started just mid last year, they have trained a total of 250 candidates so far.

“Our mission is simple to provide hospitality management programmes of the highest quality which is relevant to Bhutan,” said Kesang Dorji.

“We hope these programmes will continue and we’re very much confident that we’ll be able to train at least 200 jobseekers annually at the institute,” said Kesang Dorji.

Meanwhile, the institute is also looking at measures to offer new courses that include spa and therapy, cultural tour guiding, bakery and language courses.

The graduates were awarded certificates by labour minister, Ngeema Sangay Tshenpo on July 9.

Younten Tshedup