The graduation day is
always a special occasion. It is special not only for the graduates whose success
this ceremony celebrates but it is also special for all those who contributed
to this success - parents, professors, administrators and friends. This
ceremony is also a great thank you to all of them. Family, friends, colleagues
and well wishers celebrate the big day and pay tribute to the hard work and
efforts of the graduates.
As a professor at the institute, it is a part of my portfolio to be the Master of the Ceremony and host the event. Its an honour to be there and lead the big day in the life of the graduating batch as well as for us at the institute. The day is high on energy and for me its definitely high on emotions. It is the time to say goodbye to a batch of students who were welcomed as young girls and boys when they join the institute and then turn into young ladies and gentlemen. The parents see the change and somewhere they give us the credit, but its always a team effort, as their professors we are their mentors, guides, facilitators of knowledge. That's certainly a lot of responsibility that every faculty member carries with him or her.
The event requires a lot of planning. It starts at least a month in advance; activities involve deciding on the venue, the invitees, the menu and a couple of rehearsals of the parade of the graduating batch in their robes. Its a sight to behold!
Institute profile
The Apeejay
Institute of Hospitality located at CBD Belapur shares
its premises with The Park Navi Mumbai. It is
an initiative of the Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Ltd.
that operates its collection of Luxury Boutique hotels in
India. The institute offers a 3
years Bachelor’s Degree programme in Hospitality
Studies (BSc-HS)affiliated to the University of Mumbai & YCMO University
and is recognized by the University Grants
Commission.AIH is also the center for learning of Apeejay Surrendra
Park Hotels.The group's Management Training Programme, Professional
Development programmes as well as consultancy projects for the
hospitality industry are some of its additional core
activities. Not only academics but extra
curricular activities are also given equal impetus. Students have the
advantage of getting hands-on operational training
at The Park, Navi Mumbai, doing their industrial
training from any of
the Park properties or associated organizations and take up careers with the
Park Hotels as well as other hotels.
The Ceremony
You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk ,and by not quite knowing what you're doing, but what you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself.
~Alan Alda
The 5th batch
graduated from the portals of the AIH on 30th of March 2014 in
a spectacular ceremony held at the Park Navi Mumbai. Mrs. Shirin Paul,
Chairperson Emeritus, Apeejay Surrendra group was the Guest Of Honour and the
Chief Guest for the function was Ms. Priya Paul, Chairperson, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Ltd. Also
present was Mr. Swarup Datta, GM The Park, Navi Mumbai and Mr. Lotlikar from
the Apeejay House. The invitees were parents of final year students, AIH
alumni, principals of Hotel Management colleges in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai,
media, Hotel General Managers of hotels and recruiters.
Principal Mr. GM Bhuvan
presented the annual report;
The future belongs to
those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
~Eleanor Roosevelt
Final year student representative Ms. Aishwarya
Sathe, shared her experiences of the journey at AIH and it was received with
cheer and applause. Then Ms. Priya Paul, chief guest of the function addressed
the audience. Apart from the inspiring speech to the graduating students she shared
her own ambition of studying hospitality at a premium university in the US, she
ended by studying economics but later was invited to the same university to be
the keynote speaker. She also spoke about the Park Management Training Programme
being contemporary and trying to do something different and out of the box. It
tries to expose young minds to various aspects of lifestyle elements, be it
lifestyle products, destinations, music etc. into the curriculum, moving on
from the hospitality of the 90s and giving the guests something different to experience.
Jit Paul Gold medal which is instituted in fond memory of Mr. Jit Paul, is
awarded to the passing out student who is an all rounder with the best attitude
and values. The winner of this award was Ms. Kriti Srikanth. She was also the winner of the The Surrendra Paul Gold
medal, instituted in the memory of our founder, awarded to the student for academic excellence.
Mrs. Paul then
distributed the course completion certificates to the graduating batch. The
passing out batch took the oath lead by the Master of Ceremony; this was in
full academic regalia, students wearing their graduation robes and hats,
holding the candles lit by their faculty members signifying the transference of
knowledge.
The message to the graduating batch
As it is said that if one can dream it , he can do it. Take the time to dream
big, as dreams help you to do great things. Continue to
learn, be curious, be open to others whose interests differ from yours. Read and learn something new every day. Be resilient, learn from your mistakes and
celebrate your accomplishments.
As you sit together, as a class for the very last time, I encourage you to focus on what you have learned and accomplished in and outside of AIH. And then use this experience and learnings to your advantage!
As you sit together, as a class for the very last time, I encourage you to focus on what you have learned and accomplished in and outside of AIH. And then use this experience and learnings to your advantage!
Gratitude opens the door to a great, fulfilling and enriching life. Finally today, more than any other day, remember to be grateful. Express your gratitude to everyone who contributed to bring you here on this threshold today, your parents, professors and fellow students.
Wishing you the very best.
May you make wise
decisions and have great success.
The programme concluded
with the national anthem sung by all present. The faculty and students then
joined the guests for some sumptuous lunch, the Park Hotel kitchen team laid an
elaborate buffet.
The function will
certainly go as a red letter day in the history of the institute and will be
cherished by the graduating batch.
