Higher education in Hospitality Management

Stenden South Africa accreditation and partnerships mean that the Institution is truly in a position to craft the future leaders of the hospitality industry.

Stenden South Africa is situated in the picturesque seaside town of Port Alfred, halfway between Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape. It is the only Private Higher Education Institution offering a three year B.Com Degree in Hospitality Management in South Africa. Stenden South Africa is affiliated with the world renowned Mantis Collection of Boutique Hotels and Private Game Reserves.

History of Stenden South Africa Preface

It was a great privilege to be associated with the founding of a Hospitality University in South Africa. The one experience that was both thought and life changing for me was my first visit to CHN in the Netherlands. I was never a great scholar because for me I found the theory extremely difficult to follow, however as soon as I was able to see the practical side of the theory it was all so easy. At CHN the emphasis on the practical side of learning meant everything to me.

All the courses I saw had a practical side to them, how easy it would be for the students! If this was the model we were to bring to South Africa I desperately wish to be part of it.Throughout my business career in the Eastern Cape and all the new ventures my team and I have brought to the Province none have been easy, however all have succeeded. It is with pride that I was part of the original structure of EISS and it is with humility that I now serve as Chairman of the Board of Governors and I praise my colleagues in the Netherlands for persevering with their endeavors, both financially and with effort and time to ensure that this University becomes one of the success stories of not only our Province but South Africa.

Sifra Kooi, alumni of CHN University, the Netherlands and lecturer at EISS prepared the information for this book by conducting interviews and wrote the base text. We like to thank all people who participated and helped to develop this book. The start of EISS / Initiators of EISS / The birth of EISS. The idea which led to the formation of the Educational Institute for Service Studies (EISS) was conceived by the Christelijke Hogeschool Nederland (CHN). The CHN University is based in the Netherlands and since its establishment in 1987 it developed an international focus. The vision was and still is to establish five to seven campuses around the world.

Mr. Klaas Speelman, Director Global Campus Sites, Mr. Bert Vroon, President of the Executive Board and Mr. Klaas-Wybo van de Hoek, Director of the CHN International Hospitality Management Institute, Mr. Douwe Tamminga, Chairman of the Board of Governors,, Mr. Joris Paulussen, IHM staff member, was the team that developed the idea and took the initiative to negotiations between the CHN and the South African business people.

In the meantime a group of South Africans considered the idea of establishing an educational facility. Mr. Isaac Mabindisa, former administrator at University of Fort Hare SA, Mr. John Hughes, owner of the Grand Hotel and Mr. Raymond Mhlaba, First premier of the Eastern Cape, Councilor Louise Swanepoel, Ndlambe Town Council, provided the initiative in South Africa.

Mr. John Hughes approached Mr. Adrian Gardiner (ownner of the Mantis Collection of Hotel Groups) , and a businessman with interest in wildlife conservation and tourism industry, to take part in the developing of a hotel school. During a hospitality conference in Berlin, Germany, delegations from the two parties met, and they discussed establishing a hospitality training institute in South Africa.

After the visit of a panel with Ms. Kurti Mennen as chairperson from the Department of Education in January 2002, the CHN University of Port Alfred was granted provisional registration and accreditation with one of the conditions being that they could not continue with the name, CHN University Port Alfred. After discussion the name: Educational Institute for Service Studies (EISS) was chosen. With this name, the options are open to offer other study directions, for example education, retail business and social work.

In January 2003 EISS welcomed their first thirteen South African First Year students. These students enroled for the international hospitality management, eight week modules. Students from CHN University in the Netherlands came to South Africa to follow modules or to do internship at EISS. There were International Hotel Management (IHM), agric-tourism, Retail Business Students (RBS), Office Management (OM), Educational and Social Care Students. This is now called: the Grand Tour.