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I am Dr Cameron Martin, the Academic Dean of The Swiss Hotel School South Africa. I hold a Honours, Masters, and PhD in Education from the WITS School of Education. My role at the SHS is to develop and manage the quality educational programmes of the institution as well as lecture in a variety of modules.
1. What do you love most about working with students at SHS?
I love to see those who struggle overcome their perceived limits or boundaries. Whether it be academics, practical skills, or newly developed confidence, seeing the students learn to become independently capable in their own lives is significantly rewarding.
2. In your opinion, what sets SHS apart from other hospitality or culinary institutions?
The SHS is a unique institution that is driven by the idea of developing people. True education is not always sunshine and rainbows. True growth comes from facing challenges, failing and coming back for more and better results. This school embraces that. Our students leave here not only as good and competent hospitality managers and chefs, but strong, resilient and highly capable people. This is what makes us a bit special.
3. If you could give one piece of advice to a parent helping their child choose a career path, what would it be?
Listen. Listening to your child and what their thoughts are about their future is a truly important step towards taking responsibility for themselves. Give them that opportunity to put into words their wants and needs and their vision of what they want in their careers. And then, talk it through with them.
4. How do you see the hospitality industry evolving, and how does SHS prepare students for that future?
The future of the hospitality industry in the short and medium term is very exciting. There is currently a significant increase in demand for hospitality graduates within the Middle East and Africa region, with the Department of Tourism looking to increase the number of annual tourist to the country to over 15 million people by 2030. These types of opportunities and many others are what SHS graduates will be exposed to in the coming years. It is a really good time to get into Hospitality and Tourism.