New Delhi: In a first in India, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has started a course in International Hospitality Administration BA Program.

The course will be of three years duration for which the varsity has sanctioned 45 study centres.

According to Professor V.N. Rajshekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU, "This program is aimed at capacity building and enhancing access to employment based professional education for the Indian students".

"The program has been inbuilt with American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AH&LEI) which will later on help Indian student's to become experts in hospitality management", an official at the varsity said.