Providing hands-on opportunities for professional growth, the University of Baguio-School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (UB-SIHTM) hosted a week‑long faculty immersion, Hospitality 360: Faculty Immersion for Holistic Industry Integration, at the Champion’s Nook in the Centennial Café from July 7–11, 2025.
The program kept faculty current with industry trends, operations, and best practices across the hospitality and tourism sectors by placing instructors directly in service roles. Mr. Klyde Anjello Mortel trained in the café’s bar area; Ms. Roeanne Mylene Yango worked in dining operations; and Mr. Chris Evan Amansec gained experience in kitchen operations.
As an in‑house chef, Mr. Mortel cross-trained in bar service and assisted with beverage preparation and service during the Nook’s operating hours. Tourism Management instructor Ms. Yango focused on front‑of‑house dining procedures and guest service, while Hospitality Management and Foreign Language instructor Mr. Amansec worked under Chef Racquel Tacwigan, assisting with food preparation, on‑site plating, inventory checks, and general kitchen supervision.
The program reaffirms SIHTM’s commitment to bridging classroom learning with real-world expertise. By equipping its faculty with up-to-date industry skills, the school ensures that students receive industry-relevant education, preparing them to thrive in the fast-changing world of hospitality and tourism.
In line with this, the immersion also reflects the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 4: Quality Education – The program directly supports quality education by strengthening the professional competencies of faculty members. By immersing instructors in real industry environments, SIHTM ensures that classroom instruction remains aligned with current hospitality and tourism practices, thereby providing students with relevant, high-quality, and practical education.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By engaging faculty in hands-on training within the hospitality industry, the program contributes to the development of a workforce that is skilled, adaptable, and industry-ready. This not only benefits UB students but also strengthens the capacity of future graduates to contribute meaningfully to local and global economies through decent and productive work.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The initiative highlights the value of partnerships between the university and its internal establishments such as the Champion’s Nook. These collaborations allow for the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and resources, ensuring that both faculty and students gain from a collective effort toward academic and industry excellence.
Through Hospitality 360: Faculty Immersion for Holistic Industry Integration, UB-SIHTM continues to champion innovation in education, ensuring that its faculty and graduates remain competitive and responsive to the evolving demands of the hospitality and tourism industry.
