Kolkata: Avalon Academy, the aviation and hospitality training subsidiary of Aptech Ltd, on Wednesday tied up with UK-based Scotland's Colleges International (SCI) to offer higher national diploma (HND) in Hospitality Management.

SCI is a consortium of colleges that includes Perth College, Adam Smith College, Telford College and Dundee College.

"It is a well-known fact that Europe is the heart of expertise in the world of hospitality training. Avalon's tie-up with SCI will provide an opportunity to Indian students to get an exposure to training in hospitality management at par with international standards and get a head-start in this arena," Aptech CEO and managing director Pramod Khera said.

"At present, the hospitality industry is experiencing a boom time. In fact, this has emerged as the world's fastest-growing, job-creating profession," he added.

"India is known for hospitality and Indians are born with the skill. All we have to do is to groom them according to industry needs," international director of Perth College Rob Chell told sources.

The 24-month programme will be delivered partly at Avalon centres in India and partly on college campus at Scotland. Students going to Britain will have a minimum of three months on-the-job internship in any part of Europe in the hospitality industry.

Talking about the highlights of this programme, Avalon head Preeti Malik said: "All students completing this course will be eligible to apply for two years' work visa in the UK under the post study work scheme."

Students would have the option to move into any of the four crucial areas of hospitality - food production, food and beverages, front office operations and housekeeping. IANS