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Kota Kinabalu: Courtyard Hotel 1Borneo and City Skill Training Centre (CSTC) have formalised a partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Industrial Training for Culinary Trainees, strengthening collaboration between skills education and the hospitality industry.
Many of the students come from the B40 group and from non-urban areas. For these young people, having access to skills education and a pathway into the hospitality industry can make a significant difference to their future.
Under the two-year MOU, Courtyard Hotel 1Borneo will provide three-month industrial training placements for CSTC trainees under the Malaysian Skills Certification for Culinary Arts Operation Programme (SKM Level 3), particularly within the hotel’s Kitchen Department.
The partnership will provide trainees with the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a real hotel environment while gaining practical experience and developing essential workplace skills such as teamwork, communication, discipline, time management, hygiene and food safety, adherence to hotel procedures and customer service.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Datuk Foo Ngee Kee said the collaboration reflected the importance of workplace exposure in preparing young people for their future careers.
Foo also highlighted the role of the partnership in creating opportunities for young talents, particularly students from the B40 group and non-urban areas.
“I believe that what City Skill Training Centre is doing is truly a noble feat — giving young people, regardless of their background or where they come from, the opportunity to acquire practical skills, gain confidence and ultimately secure meaningful employment.
“For Courtyard Hotel, we are very glad and proud to be a part of this noble effort. We see our role not merely as providing industrial training, but as helping to create a bridge between skills education and employment.
“By giving these trainees exposure to a real hotel environment, we hope to help them understand the industry, develop their abilities and, where opportunities are available, take their first steps towards a rewarding career,” he said.
Meanwhile, Armron Peter Ronald said the collaboration would give CSTC trainees valuable exposure to the actual working environment.
“At CSTC, we believe that students should not only learn in the classroom. They also need to experience the real working environment,” he added.
He described CSTC’s training approach as a progression from training and industry exposure to workplace experience and, ultimately, employability.
Armron said the MOU was more than a formal agreement, as it would provide trainees with opportunities to learn from experienced hotel professionals, gain confidence and better understand the expectations of the hospitality industry.
He also expressed CSTC’s appreciation to Courtyard Hotel 1Borneo for providing the trainees with the opportunity to gain practical experience, while expressing hope that the partnership would continue to grow through industrial training, career opportunities, industry sharing and skills development.
The collaboration reflects the shared commitment of Courtyard Hotel 1Borneo and CSTC to develop skilled, confident and industry-ready talent for the hospitality sector.
For Courtyard Hotel 1Borneo, the partnership also represents an opportunity to contribute to the development of future hospitality professionals by providing young talents with meaningful workplace experience and exposure to industry standards.
The MOU was signed by Prof Datuk Foo Ngee Kee, Managing Director of Courtyard Hotel Management Sdn Bhd, and Armron Peter Ronald, Centre Manager (PPB) of City Skill Training Centre, during a ceremony held at Courtyard 2, Level 1, Courtyard Hotel 1Borneo.
The signing was witnessed by Evelina Sitem, Hotel Manager (Finance and Administration) of Courtyard Hotel Management Sdn Bhd, and Nabil Faez Juie, Internal Verification Officer (PPD) of City Skill Training Centre.
Both organizations look forward to building a meaningful and long-term partnership that supports talent development and strengthens the pathway from skills education to employment in the hospitality industry.