What is the Hospitality Exchange Program about?

The objective of the Hospitality Exchange Program is to help you to develop a successful career in the hospitality and tourism industry in Thailand. We do that by offering you an opportunity to live in Europe, to study about European Hospitality Management at Europe's best universities and to gain hands-on international experience in leading European hotels.

In The Hospitality Exchange Program you will learn about the practical and the theoretical side of the International hospitality industry. During the program, you will develop very strong Personal Skills because you will learn how to deal with many different people and many different situations. So, what kind of skills will your learn?

Multi-Skills, Decision Making and Problem Solving
Personal Responsibility, Own Initiative and Pro-Active Behaviour
Effective communication and dealing with different people
International Experience and Cross-Cultural Understanding

These personal skills, together with the International hands-on experience, are perhaps the most important things you need to become successful in the hotel and tourism industry. Did you know that most of the graduates of the Hospitality Exchange Program were promoted to supervisory or management level, shortly after they completed the program?

Important Note

The Hospitality Exchange Program is NOT a training program! When you join this program, you already completed your training during your study in Thailand and most of you already worked in the hospitality industry. That is why it is not a training program but a career development program. If the objective of the program was to train you how to cook or serve, we could also train you in Thailand. present we provide three programs for you

OVERVIEW OF THE HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE PROGRAM

	Tell me more about the program!
	What will be provided under this program?
	Who can join the program?
	How can I apply for this program?
	How much do I have to pay?
	Who is organizing the program?

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM!

The Hospitality Exchange Program is available in The Netherlands or Belgium. If you join the program you will leave Bangkok in January or July and you will come back exactly six months later. When you are in Europe, you will get hands-on experience in some of the finest hotels. As a member of the team, you work 5 days or 40 hours per week in a department that fits your career interests. You can choose from many different departments such as Restaurant Service, Banqueting, Bar or Kitchen. We don't have placement in the Front Office because of the language. Many guests will speak in the local language and most paperwork will be in a strange language. During the six months you will study at the university in the country where you travel to. The study program will teach you about International Hospitality Management and includes classroom sessions, group projects, individual assignments and generally an exam at the end of the program. After you successfully completed the placement in the hotel and the study at school, you will receive the HEP Certificate, signed by all the organizing partners.

WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED UNDER THIS PROGRAM?

• Intensive Orientation Program in Thailand before you leave
• Placement in some of the finest hotels in Holland or Belgium
• Tuition Fees at the hotel school
• Meals and accommodation based on double occupancy
• Personal coaching and support in Europe
• Visa and other documents as required by the local governments
• Economy Class airline ticket to Europe
• International Medical Insurance
• Welcoming and Orientation Program in Europe when you arrive
• Allowance for transportation from your hotel to the university
• Monthly allowance for your personal expenses
• International certification of your program

WHO CAN JOIN THE PROGRAM?

• Thai National
• Age between 22 and 28 years
• Bachelor Degree in Hospitality and/or Tourism
• Positive, optimistic nature and a very high motivation
• Minimum 3 months previous Food & Beverage experience
• Good English language skills

HOW CAN I APPY FOR THIS PROGRAM?

• Check the Selection Criteria of the program
• Download the Application Form and fill the form completely
• Attach two color picture of 2"
• Write a 400-words essay in English. More information
• Download the Approval Letter and fill the form completely
• Attach your Reference Letters, Diplomas, Certificates etc
• Make a copy of your passport
• Make a copy of your study transcript
• Send the forms and documents by mail to Rangsit University

HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO PAY?

The program is sponsored by the European hotels, the hotel schools in Europe and the program partners. During the program, all your expenses (including your living expenses) are covered! Your own contribution in only 35,000 Baht tuition fee and a refundable deposit of 10,000 Baht. You will have some miscellaneous expenses for your Medical Certificate, document translations and airport tax.

WHO IS ORGANIZING THE PROGRAM?

The Hospitality Exchange Program is organized by Rangsit University in Thailand, in close cooperation with the Thai Hotels Association, and with leading hotels and universities in Europe. The visas and training permits are provided by the governments and embassies in Europe and Thailand.

The partners

Rangsit University, Thailand
Thai Hotels Association, Thailand
Christelijke Hogeschool Nederland CHN, The Netherlands
COOVI Elishout Hotel School, Belgium
Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies, United Kingdom

The partners in The Netherlands

The partners in Belgium

The partners in The United Kingdom

HISTORY OF THE HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE PROGRAM (HEP)

The Hospitality Exchange Program was established in 1998 in cooperation with the European hotel industry, Rangsit University, the Thai Hotels Association and in close cooperation with government agencies in Thailand and Europe.

The objective was to contribute to the Human Resource Development of Thailand by creating opportunities for young and ambitious Thai nationals to gain international experience and to develop strong personal skills that would prepare them for future managerial positions in the hospitality and tourism industry in Thailand

The program was first offered in The Netherlands in 1998 and expanded to Belgium in 2000. In 2001, the HEP started a sponsored Master Degree Program in the United Kingdom. The two-and-half year program is organized in partnership with Rangsit University and the College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies of the University of Birmingham and awards a Masters of Art in Hospitality Management.

Since the initiation of The Hospitality Exchange Program, more then 700 young and ambitious Thai nationals successfully completed the Program and are now developing their career in the hospitality and tourism industry in Thailand.

In 2004, Rangsit University commissioned a project, with the objective to the research the achievement of the objectives of The Hospitality Exchange Program. During a seven months period, researchers measured the impact of the program on its graduates and interviewed hundreds of graduates, and the partners of The Hospitality Exchange Program. The comprehensive report is available at the Office of International Affairs of Rangsit University. To order your copy of the report, please click here.