Chef Yashwant is the Head of the Department at the Ananta Institute of Hotel Management and Allied Studies. He holds a BA from Rajasthan University and a Diploma in Bakery and Confectionery. An experienced individual, he has several years of experience working for well-known brands such as Holiday Inn Bahrain, Goa Marriott, Italian Restaurant and Patisserie, Abu Dhabi UAE, Carnival Cruise Line USA, IHM, and Fat Guy Patisserie. Chef Yashwant has been associated with academia since 2018, when he joined JECRC University and the Agrawal Institute of Hotel Management in Jaipur.

Ananta Institute of Hotel Management

What the philosophy of leadership .and how would you describe your leadership?

My leadership philosophy is that I lead people so they can in turn guide other people. As a leader, I must guide properly and be honest with my students. We should guide them in practical aspects so that students have the right skills to start their careers. They can then confidently choose the career line and have sustainable careers in it. A solid leadership style will help all stakeholders achieve their goals.

What are the factors that make this program the best for the student to opt?

The main reason to choose our program is that students can immediately start working on their goals after graduation. As teachers, we ensure that students are learning everything and are properly trained to achieve their goals Another factor that sets our course apart is that they receive constant guidance from our teachers until they land a suitable job.

What will you say are the “best practices “in the course you are offering?

The best practice of our course is that students receive overall grooming and personality training. Not only do they learn the theoretical aspects of their degrees, but they also learn time management, managing their daily work load, and grooming. There are practical classes in our laboratories every day that have state-of-the-art equipment.

What are some valuable insight of the program that you are offering at your Institute?

We have a flight deck service at the Ananta Institute of Hotel Management and Allied Studies that is very helpful to teachers and students alike. Moreover, we also have an established hotel chain at our college. It is a fully functioning hotel where we can serve customers and have our students practice their skills. This is a major advantage for our students before they start working in the industry.

How does the program ensure that students are being prepared for the future?

We place a lot of emphasis on practical classes over theory classes. Students need to finish a certain number of practical sessions to graduate. Additionally, our students take personal responsibility to ensure they are succeeding and learning the right skills.

How did you train yourself / faculty to deliver this program to the student?

From time to time, we have faculty develop programs that are meant to train and keep our teachers up to date on the latest teaching techniques. We also send our teachers to the industry to learn about new products and service offerings in the market, such as new utensils or cooking equipment, and how to use them. We make use of modern training materials such as PowerPoints that are given to students to learn from.

How do you tend to build an industry connect with this program?

Occasionally, we send our students and teachers to the industry and hotels. These industry visits are meant to network with seniors, learn from hands-on experience, and gain valuable practical experience. We also invited experts and professionals to serve as judges for culinary competitions such as cake icing competitions.

What were the challenges that you faced while inculcating these programs in your curriculum?

One of our biggest challenges is maintaining the student’s attention span. If the students are paying attention, the teachers have an easier time teaching. In addition, teachers need to keep learning about the latest technology in academia and the culinary world. This will equip them to be the best teachers and deliver our curriculum optimally. We are now working towards addressing these challenges.

What are the benefits and career options after pursuing this course?

After doing our course, students become equal to graduate students in terms of knowledge and skills. They can then start working towards their goal and build a successful career. We also give them a lot of opportunities to interact with professionals in the industry that are perfect for not just networking but also seeking out jobs and learning what is needed of them in the workplace.

What would you like people to know about your Institute they may not know?

People should know that we offer quality education and that all our students receive thorough training. We have experienced faculty members who have worked across the globe delivering our programs and guiding them to achieve their desired career paths. We also make use of the latest technology and social media to teach and reach our students.