Yesterday, 120 students graduated from Queenstown Resort College (QRC) with either diplomas in hospitality or adventure tourism management, graduate diplomas in tourism and hospitality management, and, for the first time, certificates in leadership and performance.
The latter qualification was launched by QRC last year through the ‘Train, Retain and Regain 2021’, funded by the Ministry of Social Development.
It was aimed at people already employed who wanted to upskill or reskill in other areas of the business, gain another qualification in an area they wanted to pursue, which was of value to the business, to help with staff retention.
QRC will next launch its new New Zealand qualification, the 10-week ‘machine learning fundamentals’ course, which would help technology businesses struggling to find staff.
"QRC, its graduates and students have never been more relevant, or in greater demand.
"The future is bright, and you’re really well-prepared ..." he said.
Mr Phillips also paid tribute to QRC’s staff who navigated the past year, during Covid, without "missing a beat" and delivered all classes.
"That is something that everyone in this room is grateful for."
