For young people who may not have completed their Ordinary Level or Advanced Level education, finding a pathway into the hospitality industry can often be a challenge. For the past nine years, the Australian College of Training in Hospitality (ACTH Institute) has been providing an alternative by equipping them with practical skills that can lead to employment.
Established in 2017, ACTH Institute has focused on giving young people, including those who have not followed the conventional academic route, an opportunity to build careers through internationally recognised hospitality skills training.
The institute marked its ninth anniversary on 8 September, celebrating nine years of providing skills-based hospitality training in Sri Lanka. From the beginning, ACTH has concentrated on practical skills required in the hospitality industry, offering short courses in areas such as Bartending, Barista skills, Waiting, Food Safety and Front Desk Reception. The programs are designed to give students the practical knowledge and confidence required to enter the hospitality sector, both in Sri Lanka and overseas.
Over the years, ACTH has expanded its training programs to meet the changing requirements of the hospitality industry. In 2022, culinary skills courses in Pastry and Baking and Cookery were introduced. The same year, the institute introduced the Diploma in Hospitality Management, a globally recognised qualification endorsed by the Institute of Hospitality UK.
Practical experience is an important part of the training at ACTH. Students have opportunities to take part in practical sessions, traineeships and internships at the purpose-built café located close to the institute in Negombo.
The café provides students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a working hospitality environment while developing the skills needed for employment.
Manager Lakshan Mathes assists trainees in seeking employment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s hospitality and tourism industry, helping them take the next step after completing their training. The institute has also introduced online learning to support its students. Director of Studies and Lecturer Peter R. Fernando has developed an e-learning platform through which students can access their study material online.
The ninth anniversary celebrations on 8 September began with a Barista Challenge and Latte Art Throwdown, bringing together 12 ACTH graduates who are now employed as baristas. The competition was also an opportunity for the institute to bring together former students and showcase the skills they had developed through their training. For the final challenge, each participant was required to prepare a macchiato and a flat white, testing their technical skills, consistency and presentation.
Shenali Fernando, a barista at Heritage Café, Kurana, emerged as the clear winner of the competition. The Barista Challenge also provided a fitting highlight to the institute’s ninth anniversary, demonstrating how vocational training can help young people move from the classroom into the workplace.
Over the past nine years, ACTH has continued to focus on practical, industry-oriented training, with the aim of giving young people the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to build careers in the hospitality and tourism industry. As Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues to grow, the institute says it remains committed to developing skilled hospitality personnel and creating more opportunities for young people to enter the industry, both locally and internationally.
The participants who took part were: Sasanka Fernando, Chalani Samarapperuma, Raveesha Sri Dhananji, Shenali Fernando, Akalki Nanayakkara, Nethusha Fernando, Amith Sandakelum, Waranga Fernando, Mohamad Anfas, Jayapidum Perera, Kavishka Abishek, and Sandeep Thalagala.