Rosen College’s partnership with Japan’s hospitality industry is expanding, giving students the opportunity to gain international work experience as part of their education. Now in its second year, five Rosen College students will spend this summer interning at Kafuu Resort Fuchaku Condo – Hotel Okinawa, a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® 2015 Winner. As part of the program, they will receive housing and meals, in addition to training and an hourly wage. Students will also attend several events hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa (ACCO).
During a pre-departure orientation at Rosen College on May 20, students heard from Rafael Ortega, ’14, who participated in the program last year. Since graduation, Ortega entered the prestigious and selective Marriott Voyage Global Leadership Development Program and is now working at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.
Due to the success of this program, Rosen College and the Office of Experiential Learning have established a second partnership with the Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, Japan’s first luxury urban resort. Three hospitality students will work in paid positions at this globally-renowned hotel, located in the middle of a city featuring 17 world heritage sites. Students will depart in late June, and work and live in Kyoto until the end of 2015.
“Japan, as a developed country, is one of the few countries in the world where our students are able to go for paid learning experiences due to its friendly immigration and labor laws for students/interns,” said J.T. Ghim, experiential learning coordinator for UCF’s Rosen College. “Partnerships like these will provide our students invaluable opportunities to interact with guests, employees and managers from different parts of the world while working for top-rated companies and learning about their unique management style and service culture.”
Visit Rosen College’s website to learn more about experiential learning opportunities or contact Mr. J.T. Ghim.