New College of the Desert hospitality class to send students to Japan
A new hospitality management course at College of the Desert includes a partnership with Wakayama University in Wakayama, Japan, and will send 15 students to that country for a week of studies this spring.
COD students in the leadership and management in the hospitality industry course will meet with peers from Wakayama University and hospitality industry leaders in a study abroad portion of the class in late May or early June.
The new class comes amid efforts by local colleges to revamp their hospitality curricula amid low enrollment, and as the Coachella Valley hospitality industry pressures COD to invest heavily in the hospitality management and culinary arts facilities at the forthcoming Palm Springs campus.
"Students will learn about sustainable development and gain a deeper understanding of management theories while experiencing and engaging in a new culture,” said Yolanda Bender, hospitality management instructor and faculty advisor. “The global perspectives students realize through this program will be incredibly valuable for their educational and professional journeys.”
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The course will cost about $500 and is underwitten by donations from Jeremy Hobbs, president of the Western Wind Foundation; the John P. Monahan Foundation; and the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation.
Students may fill out an interest form for the class at forms.gle/RwkW7EMM4XxUyyLH8.
Jonathan Horwitz covers education for The Desert Sun. Reach him at jonathan.horwitz@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: New College of the Desert hospitality class to send students to Japan
