Is India's hospitality education ready for a DIY revolution?

Given our constantly changing industry, we need to begin adopting learning models that mirror the world we work in...

- - Mugdha Mahambrey, GM - HR, Chalet Hotels

Hospitality, at its core, is about people. It’s anticipation, warmth, attentiveness, and even a bit of ad hoc magic thrown in for memorable experiences. For the longest time, this industry has been trained very formally — that is, through formal education, certifications, internships, drills in etiquette, and classroom learning.

Institutions in India, from IHMs to private hospitality colleges, have strictly followed a well-established blueprint: core curriculum in food and beverage, housekeeping, front office operations, and guest handling, with internship apprenticeships providing a sprinkle of practical exposure. This system has turned out generations of competent hoteliers; but, as the world changes at breakneck speed, it is only fitting to ask: can a more flexible and personalised learning construct complement or even stand to evolve this structure?

The Rise of DIY Learning

The term 'DIY learning' is not unfamiliar to the education world. From open-source courses to self-directed micro-certifications, curious professionals across sectors are embracing routes to learning that are curiosity-driven, access-enabled, and pedagogy-bypassing. In the hospitality sector, the precarious balance between technical acumen and intangible skills like flexibility and creativity is increasingly unstable, flattened by limitless one-size-fits-all pedagogy.