The Four Seasons Resorts Maldives Hospitality Apprenticeship programme celebrated its latest graduates and welcomed a new batch of learners.
Forty apprentices graduated at a ceremony on Saturday morning (28 May) at the Maldives National University’s auditorium in Malé. First Lady Fazna Ahmed presented certificates as the chief guest and addressed both incoming and outgoing students.
A total of 737 young Maldivians have completed the apprenticeship programme since it was launched in 2001. The class of 2022 gained skills in service areas including engineering, retail, recreation, housekeeping, front office, water sports, diving, maritime transport, and food and beverage.
“Investing in people is the cornerstone of great hospitality, and helping local youth achieve their potential and create empowered futures is very much a part of that,” said Four Seasons Resorts Maldives Regional Vice President Armando Kraenzlin.
“Their enthusiasm, talent, energy, and focus amaze us year on year, but the resilience shown by our current graduates, in the face of such unprecedented challenges, is particularly commendable.”
The Safe Maritime Transport module was upgraded with Niyami 1 Certification and Marine Mechanic Level 3 Certifications for the 2022 programme and Advanced Engineering was added as a third year module.
The 2023 intake has welcomed 65 apprentices from 30 islands.
The longest-running and most successful programme of its kind, the Four Seasons Hospitality Apprenticeship is open to all young Maldivians between 17 and 20 years of age. Entry criteria include O’ Level passes and fluency in both written and spoken English. Apprentices live and work at the Four Seasons resort in Baa atoll and undergo training in resort operations five days a week with theory classes one day a week. Performance appraisals and tests are taken at regular intervals.
“At its heart, the apprenticeship program is about learning on the job, with classes conducted by professionals with many years of international experience in the luxury hotel, dive and marine industries,” according to Four Seasons. “Recognising the need for encouragement and guidance along the way, each Apprentice is assigned a buddy and mentor. Learning to work hard within an ambitious team builds stamina and character, and strengthens the Apprentice’s sense of professionalism, discipline, teamwork and perseverance.”
