Question : AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE .

(a) Whether the Government has signed any agreement with France in the field of hotel management;

(b) If so, the details in this regard; and

(c) The manner in which India will be benefited by the said agreement?

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE ( SMT. AMBIKA SONI)

(a): The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tourism, has signed an agreement with VATEL International Business School, France on 1.8.2006.

(b): The agreement inter-alia envisages:


(i) Six scholarships for Indian students in France for the Masters’ program.


(ii) Twelve internships for Indian students in France in the 2nd year of the B.Sc. program.

(iii) Third year pass out Graduates would be eligible for integration straight into the final year of the VATEL’s two year Master’s Degree Program.

(iv) Two VATEL Professors would conduct courses of one to two weeks for Institutes of Hotel Management.

(v) VATEL will host three Indian faculty for two to three weeks exposing them to French gastronomy. In turn the Indian faculty would share their experiences with the French counterparts. Similarly, VATEL Chef’s would familiarize IHMs on French gastronomy in India.

(vi) One faculty from either institution would conduct research staying at the partner’s premises.

(vii) VATEL will organize need-based specialized courses for small groups from India.

(c): The agreement is expected to benefit both students and faculty of IHMs leading to long term advantages to Hospitality Education in the country. The students will get international exposure in Hospitality Education and practical training in the hotels in France. On the other hand, the faculty will get opportunity of interaction with their French counterpart through exchange programme, technical seminars, research studies etc., to bring about improvement in the academic standard of Hospitality Education in India.