Four Seasons Celebrates The Graduation Of Their Apprentices
Monday 23rd of May 2022
The children of a country are its future, and 40 young Maldivians will graduate from the Four Seasons Resorts Maldives Hospitality Apprenticeship program this year. Since 2001, the program has been the longest running and most successful of its kind in the Indian Ocean. They will be honored – and new students will be welcomed – at a special event on May 28th, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. at the Maldives National University Auditorium in Malé.
Madam Fazna Ahmed, the Maldives' First Lady, will be the Chief Guest of Honour during the graduation ceremony, celebrating their accomplishments. She will address both new and exiting students, as well as present certificates, in order to inspire young minds to dream big.
In its twenty-first year, the program has assisted a total of 697 young people, preparing them for an exciting hospitality profession not only in the Maldives, and perhaps around the world. Food & Beverage Service, Food & Beverage Preparation, Housekeeping & Guest Services, Retail, Front Office & Recreation, PADI Dive Master, Safe Maritime Transport (SMT), Engineering, and Watersports Attendant are among the disciplines completed by the Class of 2022.
“Investing in people is the cornerstone of great hospitality,” sharing his enthusiasm is Regional Vice President of Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, Armando Kraenzlin. “And helping local youth achieve their potential and create empowered futures is very much a part of that. Their enthusiasm, talent, energy, and focus amaze us year on year, but the resilience shown by our current graduates, in the face of such unprecedented challenges, is particularly commendable.”
The Four Seasons Hospitality Apprenticeship, which has been certified by the Maldives government since 2010, is open to all young Maldivians between the ages of 17 and 20, who meet a variety of entry criteria, including O-Level certifications and fluency in both written and spoken English. There is no prior work experience required, and apprentices are fully supported to live and work at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, where they will receive training in resort operations five days a week and theory lectures one day a week. Performance evaluations and assessments are administered on a regular basis.
Despite the hospitality industry's challenging times, the 2022 program accepted 40 apprentices, with the Safe Maritime Transport module enhanced with Niyami 1 Certification and Marine Mechanic Level 3 Certifications. The future also looks promising, with the 2023 intake attracting 65 students from 30 islands and the addition of a new third year subject, Advanced Engineering.