Student internships are starting in the Gromada hotel chain
Representatives of the National Tourism Cooperative (OST) Gromada, based in Warsaw, which owns the Gromada Hotel in Koszalin, signed an agreement on May 21 this year, opening a new chapter of cooperation with the Koszalin University of Technology.
To date, the contacts between the entities have included co-organizing meetings of the Koszalin Republic Club. The agreement includes the organization of internships for students at Gromada hotel facilities. At the accompanying press conference, streamed live on the university's FB profile, attended were: rector Dr. hab. Danuta Zawadzka, PK professor and Dr. Anna Szczepańska-Przekota, rector's representative for student internships at PK, as well as representing OST Gromada: Krzysztof Moczulski, president of the OST Gromada Management Board and at the same time deputy chairman of the General Assembly of the National Cooperative Council, Czesław Marzec, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hotel Gromada Koszalin, a member of the OST Gromada Supervisory Board, and Wiesław Świś, president of Hotel Gromada Koszalin sp. z o.o.
- Signing agreements with strategic partners, such as the Gromada cooperative, is crucial for building practical competencies of our students - admitted prof. Danuta Zawadzka. - All educational programs have mandatory student internships. Today we are talking about tourism and recreation program, in which we have already cooperated with Hotel Gromada in terms of supporting the Program Council of the course, individually conducted internships, and co-organization of the Republic Club.
- As OST Gromada, we have nine hotels and two recreational centers in our resources - explained Krzysztof Moczulski. - Gromada is an experienced company with a pre-war pedigree. We operate in two areas: tourism and hospitality. Our cooperation will certainly be mutually beneficial. The Koszalin University of Technology has a strong capital in educating young people. Gromada, as an economic entity, has its own needs regarding the employment of these people. We offer various forms of internships, depending on the needs and expectations of students.
Czesław Marzec did not hide that signing the agreement with the Koszalin University of Technology is an important event for OST Gromada: - Students gaining theoretical knowledge will be able to test themselves in practical activities. Young people will be involved in all hotel work at our facilities. Moreover, they can use Gromada's achievements and experience when writing their diploma theses.
From the beginning of our cooperation with Koszalin University of Technology, we have been and are interested in the staffing area - added Wiesław Świś. - Especially on the Coast, where there are many accommodation facilities, the demand for employees in our industry is absolutely exceptional. Gromada also lacks staff. Therefore, we count very much that regardless of the fact that we want to become a place for young people to gain experience and practical skills, we will acquire new employees who already know the specifics of Gromada. For example: I am ready to hire a marketing and promotion manager, fluent in German, on the spot.
Dr. Anna Szczepańska-Przekota recalled that professional student internships are an integral part of the curriculum. - In the case of the practical program of tourism and recreation, it amounts to 960 hours, which is 36% of the hourly load in the entire education cycle.
Photos: Adam Paczkowski / Koszalin University of Technology