Top 5 colleges In West Zone Of India Offering BVoc In Tourism
India has been an enchanting destination since ancient times for travellers from across the world. Famous for our “atithi devo bhava” view of those who come to experience the expanse and vibrancy of our country, our citizens have taken utmost care and pride in honouring and serving the guests with respect and love.
The art of hosting travellers is not something that can be mugged up, it is rather a skill to be acquired. For that, the Indian education system has introduced many Bachelor of Vocation (BVoc )courses in tourism for undergraduate students. BVoc in Tourism provides students with a wide range of exciting career opportunities in the dynamic industries of tourism and hospitality.
The education system of India is now bridging the gap between what is expected of the job market and what is taught in the college classroom. In September of 2011, the Ministry of HRD, Government of India, introduced the National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF). NQEF was later replaced with a new framework called the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) in December 2013.
India recognised the need to bridge the gap between the job market and college education, leading to the introduction of BVocprogramme through the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
In 2014, UGC introduced a Bachelor Of Vocation (BVoc) programme for undergraduate students to give them practical knowledge of courses to make them more job ready. These BVoc courses in India have had multiple exits over three years. The students get the certificate of a diploma holder in the first year, advanced diploma holder in the second year, and BVoc degree holder in the third and final year.
Why Is A Bachelors in Vocations Needed?
The economic growth and job opportunities in a country depend on the knowledge and skills of its workforce. India requires a sufficient number of qualified and skilled workers in both tourism and hospitality industries. We have only a small percentage of the Indian workforce that has received professional training so there is a need to invest more in vocational education. Skill India aimed to train 300 million people by 2022 with a big investment by the Indian government.
Significance of BVoc In Tourism
During the pandemic, the tourism industry suffered financially worldwide. But as per the Economic Survey of India 2023, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry of India gained balance. After the international flights resumed there was a month-on-month rise in the number of foreign tourists visiting India.
The survey also revealed that India positioned itself in 10th rank from the list of 64 countries of the World Medical Tourism Index FY21. Vocational training and tourism lay a foundation for a career in which hosting, planning, managing, and handling grievances are the major roles.
Undergraduates interested in the glamorous and multi-dimensional career of tourism can pursue BVoc in hospitality and tourism from these colleges of the west zone of India with the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. After some research, we at Careers360 chose the top five colleges depending on the curriculum, NAAC rating, NIRF ranking, and other criteria combined. All the courses listed below have an offline mode of teaching
Students who have successfully completed their Class 12 or equivalent level of examination are eligible to apply for this course.
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Tata Institute of Social Science, Maharashtra
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is one of the top 100 universities in India as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking 2022. It has set up the School of Vocational Education (SVE) to provide vocational training to undergraduate-level students.
For every BVoc programme, TISS SVE is associated with a hub partner and a Skill Knowledge Partner (SKP) in various cities in India. The hub partner provides the classroom with theoretical-based education. The SKPs are the industries or companies which provide on-the-job training. TISS SVE has successfully enrolled 5,200 students across 95 locations in India.
About the course: The course structure emphasises a balance between theoretical understanding and practical application through assignments. The curriculum of the course has basic subjects like Functional English, Basics of Economics and Markets, Communication Skills, and Computing Skills. Students explore specialised topics such as Introduction to Tourism, Tourism Geography, Modes of Transport, and Travel Agency to develop their expertise in the field.
What makes it special: TISS SVE offers internship-focused vocational training to its undergraduate students. The BVoc programme in Hospitality and Tourism at TISS offers a unique learning experience through its "learning while earning" module. This module allows students to gain practical knowledge and skills while simultaneously earning a living in the industry.
The WITP (Work Integrated Training programme) features of BVoc courses at TISS make it stand out. This involves on-the-job training of the student in an actual industry or company. TISS SVE as hub partners.
St Xaviers Mumbai, Maharashtra
St. Xavier's College, Mumbai has gained a NIRF ranking of 87th on the list of top 100 colleges in India. It offers excellence, critical thinking, multidisciplinary learning, industry relevance, social inclusion, and environmental responsibility to its students. Students develop confidence, empathy, a sense of social justice, and environmental protection through curricular and extracurricular activities.
About the course: The programme offers courses like enterprise and entrepreneurship, functional areas of management, personality and work behaviour, and localisation or globalisation. It also includes French Language and Culture as part of its curriculum, aiming to pique students' interest in a cosmopolitan society.
What makes it special: The course structure is one of a kind. It forms the foundation for the basics of the tourism industry with a modern-day industry like web designing. It also offers a unique blend of historical perspectives, exploring the rich heritage of tourism in North India through itineraries, culture, and music.
HR College of Commerce & Economics
HR College of Commerce and Economics is a prestigious institution for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It is an important part of the list of colleges under HNSC University. The college offers industry-demanded insights into commerce and business education. It follows a student-centric approach giving them practical experience and personal growth. It conducts partnership programmes with the corporate sector and non-profit communities for the overall development of its undergraduate students.
About the course: It has an extensive curriculum. It focuses on providing its students with essential managerial skills for effective leadership in the tourism and hospitality industry. Subjects like Financial Management Accounting and Service Marketing teach financial knowledge and skills for the effective management of resources. It also teaches strategies and techniques for delivering exceptional customer experiences in the tourism sector
What makes it special: HR College has a Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) which allows its students to personalise their education and pursue interdisciplinary courses. The programme focuses on practical skills and interdisciplinary learning. Honours courses are available to enhance job prospects. The college ensures a well-rounded education that prepares students for the future.
The course stands out because of its well-curated syllabus based on research by a committee. They researched the industry needs, and current trends feedback from experts and incorporated it into the syllabus. What Is Working And What Is Not In A BVoc Degree? The global and Indian tourism industry challenges, its challenges, and future technology.
Also Read: What Is Working And What Is Not In A BVoc Degree?
NS Patel Arts College, Anand (Gujarat)
NS Patel Arts College has a legacy of around 50 years in its commitment to providing an educational programme that goes beyond traditional academic curricula. The curriculum of the college supports holistic development and prepares students for the challenges of the future. It adopts a pedagogy that enhances the teaching-learning experience with the use of modern technology.
About the course: The college has a detailed curriculum that focuses on key areas of tourism development, travel industry management, tourism marketing, and tourism services.
What makes it special: The vocational programme equip the students with essential knowledge and skills related to the travel and tourism industry. The training process prepares them for a wide range of exciting career opportunities in the field of tourism and hospitality.
Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Gujarat
Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University (HGNU) an esteemed institute of Gujarat established in 1986 offers a wide range of educational opportunities. The institute holds accreditation from NAAC, ensuring quality education and academic excellence.
About the course: The curriculum of the Hospitality and Tourism Management programme includes courses such as Hospitality Marketing, Tourism Marketing, and Tour Operations Management. These courses provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills in managing marketing strategies, tour operations, and their practical application in the industry.
What makes it special: The course structure combines lectures, case studies, minor projects, and presentations to provide an engaging learning experience for the students. This approach helps students understand the real-world working conditions of the industry. This develops practical and problem-solving skills similar to customer grievance handling ability which they will need in the future
Tourism in India can be a major source of economic growth in the future. Undergraduates with adequate knowledge and skills can pave their way to a better and bright future.
