Visiting scholar shares expertise with UTech, Jamaica

Ramesh (extreme left on the left image) at the University of Technology (UTech) in Kingston, Jamaica,
where he conducted two wine appreciation workshops for their Hospitality Management students. 

March 28, 2019

With the depth and dynamic range of experience across Humber’s faculty, our international visiting scholar programs are always unique learning opportunities. These programs are foremost a way to exchange expertise, leadership and knowledge, but they also work to create partnerships and boost Humber’s international presence.

Ramesh Srinivasan is a Professor and Program Coordinator of the Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality and Tourism Management with Humber’s Business School. He recently travelled to Jamaica’s University of Technology (UTech) as a visiting scholar.

Sharing expertise at UTech, Jamaica

UTech is one of Jamaica’s premier academic institutions and one of Humber’s long-term academic partners. Through this relationship, Ramesh was able to work with leaders in UTech’s hospitality program as a visiting scholar, designing and delivering a specialized program in wine education.

The program was an eye-opening experience for students and faculty alike. Wine education is not featured in UTech’s programming and Ramesh is internationally recognized for his expertise in this area. It was a fantastic opportunity for UTech faculty and leadership to better learn about the demand and value for concentrated training in this field. And it was also a practical opportunity for faculty and students to train with an expert and gain advanced knowledge and skills. Student attendees exited the program with a highly marketable training experience that immediately added value to their resumes.

Working with Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism and Centre for Tourism and Innovation, Ramesh also made local industry visits and hosted a two–day ‘Train the Trainer’ wine education workshop for industry professionals.

Making the world a smaller place

International experience and mobility of faculty make for invaluable learning opportunities partners and the Humber community alike. Programs, like the visiting scholar, help build our international leadership and reputation, but also help to develop new teaching and learning capacities—all of which are integral to Humber’s internationalization strategy.

Ultimately, as Ramesh points out, this helps open doors for students to explore new ideas in a global perspective and develop the skills they need to become leaders in their own right. “It’s about making the world a smaller place,” says Ramesh, “and understanding why things happen, and having more acceptance and inclusion and tolerance. That is really what international education is all about.”