25 students from King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, spent the summer in Austria as part of the four-week Austrian Hospitality Training programme. The highlight of their stay was a joint graduation ceremony at IMC Krems, where the students received their certificates and shared insights into their experiences over the past four weeks.
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King Saud University students celebrate graduation at IMC Krems
The Summer School programme provided the students with valuable international and practical experience in tourism, hospitality and food & beverage. The training comprised a total of 120 hours, combining theoretical content with practical training, industry visits and cultural activities. The programme focused on Austrian and international hospitality standards as well as the requirements of the Saudi and international tourism markets.
Successful cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Austria
The Austrian Hospitality Training programme is part of the cooperation between King Saud University and IMC Krems. It was established as part of the joint two-year Hotel Management Diploma and represents the final practical component of the programme in Austria.
WIFI Niederösterreich supports IMC Krems as a cooperation partner in delivering the practical training. The programme is funded by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism.
“Celebrating the successful completion of this training programme on our campus today is a powerful demonstration of our strong links with industry and our commitment to practice-oriented education. By directly connecting these international students with leading Austrian companies, we create significant added value. Their presence is a real enrichment for campus life and further strengthens the importance of our location,” says Ulrike Prommer, CEO of IMC Krems.
“The four-week hospitality training programme and the joint graduation ceremony for the 25 students from King Saud University are a wonderful demonstration of the international outlook at IMC Krems. As IMC founder and Chair of the Supervisory Board Dr Heinz Boyer has always emphasised, nothing is more international than tourism, and as a small country, Austria must pursue strong international partnerships. We are therefore particularly proud to share our practice-oriented expertise with these talented young people and to further strengthen our partnership with Saudi Arabia,” emphasises Udo Brändle, CEO of IMC Krems.
Theory at IMC Krems, practical training with WIFI Niederösterreich
The programme combined theoretical content at IMC Krems with intensive practical training delivered by WIFI Niederösterreich at the Bundesschulzentrum Eybnerstraße in St Pölten (SZE/HLW). This enabled the students to directly apply the knowledge acquired during their studies to the specific requirements of the international hospitality industry.
Alongside the professional training, the programme also included industry visits and cultural activities. This gave the participants the opportunity not only to gain insights into Austrian standards and working practices, but also to explore Austria’s cultural and tourism highlights.
Graduation ceremony offers insights into the Saudi tourism market
The joint graduation ceremony at IMC Krems marked the culmination of the students’ four-week stay. As part of the ceremony, the graduates presented case studies on the Saudi tourism market. The event was followed by the presentation of certificates and a celebration of the successful completion of the training programme.
Guests of honour included Dr Talal Fadhel Abu-Hulaibah, Assistant Professor of Tourism & Antiquities at King Saud University; Councillor Cornel-Constantin Prejban, City of Krems; Jürgen Kürner, Director of HLT Semmering; Ingrid Zimmermann, International Tourism Affairs Officer at the Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism; as well as August Teufl, Thomas Drdak and Martin Nowak, representing WIFI Niederösterreich.
International experience as a springboard for future careers
The completion of the Austrian Hospitality Training does not mark the end of the students’ education. They will subsequently undertake a five-month internship in Saudi Arabia. After that, they can either enter the workforce directly or have the qualifications they have acquired recognised towards further tourism studies at King Saud University.
The programme therefore provides an important link between academic education, international practical experience and entry into the tourism and hospitality industry.
International outlook in practice at IMC Krems
The graduation ceremony for the 25 students is a prime example of IMC Krems’ international network and the growing importance of cross-border education and training opportunities in tourism. By combining academic teaching, practice-oriented training and international exchange, students are specifically prepared for the demands of a global hospitality industry.
