Does Shannon College still have practical classes?
Yes! The essence of hotel management education at Shannon College is balancing business and management education with a thorough grounding in all practical aspects of the hotel industry.
Overall, Year 1 students have nearly 30 contact hours of lecturing each week; over half of which is in practical training.
The students rotate between five practical groups and seven subjects:
- Culinary
- Food science
- Life Skills
- Restaurant service
- Accommodation services
- Front Office Operations
- Information technology
spending two weeks in each before rotating to the next.
With our training kitchen and training restaurant, students develop attention to detail to match the work standards found in the world’s top hotels.
Do students still go on placement?
Yes! Students undertake two placements during the four year programme.
The Year 2 Placement is a professional practice placement in leading hotels in Europe. Students have an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in Year 1, in a real hotel environment. Students are placed in hotels in France, Spain, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium, the UK or Ireland.
At the end of Year 4, students begin their management career with a Trainee Management Internship in Ireland, UK, US, Europe, the Arabian Gulf and further afield. Leading international hotel companies, including Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Jumeriah International, Marriott, and Starwood, visit Shannon College to recruit final year students on management development programmes.
What subjects are taught in Shannon College today?
There is still a focus on combining Business and Practical Professional subjects but the final academic year now allows the students to develop their Leadership and Strategic skills with the options of specialising in Electives. See all subjects available here >> BBS – Course Modules
How big are the classes now?
Much bigger than in the ‘olden days’. In recent years, our classes have exceeded 100 and our aim is to haves 80 – 100 in 1st year every year. However, the college staff has also grown and we have now almost 40 staff.
Do students still wear a uniform?
Yes! The uniform changed from the traditional Black Blazer/Grey Trousers and Skirt to a Charcoal Grey business suit in 2008.
- There are regular uniform inspections.
- Shoes must be polished, gents must be clean shaven, shirts must be ironed…all the standards that have been there since 1951.
- Classes still start at 08:30
- Attendance is compulsory
Does the College still have classrooms under the hotel and in the 3rd year block?
No – the classrooms under the hotel were vacated in April 2000 when the new College Building opened. We also stopped using the 3rd year block as a classroom at the same time – it was used for lockers and a recreation space for a few years. It was levelled in June 2014.
In January 2018 we moved back to the space under the hotel – it is now a student recreation area – the wheel has turned full circle!
