Hotel School, Singapore university establish joint master's program

By Linda Myers

The two university presidents shared a pen and a plan.

On Nov. 2, Cornell President Jeffrey Lehman and Su Guaning, president of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU), signed the final contracts to create a joint master of management in hospitality program, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The first class is expected to graduate in 2006.

Cornell President Jeffrey Lehman, left, and Su Guaning, president of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU), in the Statler Hotel's Taylor Room Nov. 2, signing the contracts to create a joint hospitality management master's degree program, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Robert Barker/University Photography

Following the signing ceremony and a champagne toast in the Taylor Room of the Statler Hotel on Cornell's campus, Lehman called the agreement "historic" and "a next step in Cornell's efforts to become a truly transnational university in the 21st century." And Su said, "We expect the new program to change the face of hospitality management in Asia."

The alliance unites Cornell's School of Hotel Administration, which Lehman called "the world standard setter for hospitality education," and NTU's Nanyang Business School, one of the top business schools in Asia.

The Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management will train future hospitality industry leaders for Asia, which is experiencing enormous growth in travel and tourism and expansion by international hotel companies due to a more-affluent middle class, increased trade and China's entry into the World Trade Organization.

To mark the signing of the agreement, Lehman presented Su with a Swarovski crystal pineapple -- the world symbol of hospitality as well as one of prosperity in Singapore. Su, in turn, gave Lehman a framed, gold-encrusted orchid, representing "something precious and of great value," he said. The technique of dipping flowers in gold was perfected in Singapore, Su told Lehman.

David Butler, dean of the Hotel School, who introduced the proceedings, said: "This is the first joint degree program for both [schools], and it meets a growing need. Working together, we will build a curriculum that gives students a unique education and prepares them for leadership positions in the rapidly growing Asian hospitality industry."

Lehman, Butler and Su each recognized Jennie Chua '71, a Cornell trustee, for her role in bringing the program to fruition. Chua, who is president and CEO of Singapore-based Raffles Holdings and chair of HMS International, a hotel industry consortium, led the delegation that accompanied Su. Said Chua: "I am very pleased that the consortium ... has been an effective catalyst in bringing together NTU and Cornell, two outstanding institutions, for this first-of-its-kind collaboration in Asia." The delegation included representatives from Singapore's tourism and economic development boards and industry leaders, who came to show their broad support for the new program.

The joint 12-month intensive program will be part of Cornell's redesigned Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH). Each year the program will enroll up to 50 students, who will divide their time between the Hotel School in Ithaca and NTU in Singapore. They will take 10 core courses in fundamental business principles and strategy and at least five electives, chosen from such subjects as lodging, real estate and revenue management and food and beverage management. Working with faculty advisers, they also will have opportunities to network and learn from industry leaders.

Cornell will appoint a dean and faculty members to take up residence at NTU by mid-2005, and a joint academic committee and advisory board -- of leaders from Asia's hospitality industry and senior university officials from both Cornell and NTU -- will advise and assist the program.

NTU and Cornell each have agreed to contribute a half-million U.S. dollars to a collaborative fund sponsoring research projects focusing on the Asian hospitality industry. In addition, two newly endowed Cornell professorships, with a special emphasis on Asian hospitality management practices, are expected to produce high-caliber research for the region; appointees will spend time at NTU each year.

The program is accredited by the International Association for Management Education (formerly the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business) and by EQUIS, the accreditation body of the European Foundation for Management Development.