Hospitality management students are increasing their job prospects thanks to a hi-tech food ordering and management information system that is used by globally recognised restaurant and hotel chains.
Sheffield Hallam University students had been using pens and paper in their restaurant and kitchen training facilities until a £31,000 grant from the Savoy Educational Trust enabled them to buy an industry standard electronic point of sale (EPOS) system.
The system, supplied by MICROS-Fidelio UK Ltd, provides enterprise applications for the hospitality and retail industries worldwide.
The system allows students to programme and operate the system within student restaurant simulation events, informing and allowing management decision making to be made.
It was officially unveiled by Savoy Educational Trust CEO Julia Sibley in a ceremony at the student's 12th floor catering HQ in Sheffield Hallam's Owen Building last Thursday.
David Graham, principal lecturer in hospitality at Sheffield Hallam, said that using the system would boost students' employability.
He said: "Using the MICROS point-of-sale equipment means we can now micro-manage certain elements of the catering process, which the students can evaluate through the data provided and make more informed management decisions.
"This system is used widely in the professional hospitality management sector so using it in our degree courses will be incredibly beneficial to graduates in their future careers."
The Savoy Educational Trust is an independent, grant giving charitable trust, whose main aim is to advance and develop education, training and qualifications within the hospitality industry.
The Trustees award grants for a wide variety of hospitality related projects to educational establishments to the training and education facilities in their hospitality departments.
