Two of Australia's leading hospitality education providers will soon be applying their expertise to the Asia Pacific region with the announcement that InterContinental Hotels Group has partnered with the William Angliss Institute and Box Hill Institute to create the InterContinental Hotels Group Academy in China.

A. Patrick Imbardelli, chief executive, InterContinental Hotels Group Asia Pacific, said, "China is one of the most important growth markets for InterContinental Hotels Group worldwide. Since we first established our presence here in the early 1980s, we have been a champion of talent development and have nurtured scores of talented industry professionals and leaders."

Due to launch in September through Shanghai University's Advanced Polytechnic College prior to a staged rollout through Greater China, the Academy has been developed to address the Asia Pacific hotel industry's growing demand for trained talent. It will begin by offering a two-year Advanced Certification programme, combining theoretical instruction from industry academics and InterContinental Hotels Group executives with internships at the Group's hotels.

The Academy will also offer a series of four- to eight-week certification programmes on specific areas of hotel operations such as front office, housekeeping and food and beverage functions. All graduates will receive internationally-recognised certificates from the William Angliss Institute and will be offered employment at properties managed by InterContinental Hotels Group.

Contributing to the content of the programmes from an international perspective and awarding the certifications is the William Angliss Institute of TAFE, the largest specialist centre for hospitality, tourism and culinary arts in Australia.

Tang Sheng Jiang, Dean of the Shanghai University Advanced Polytechnic College, said, "Integrating educational learning with industry exposure is key to successful vocational training and we are honoured to partner InterContinental Hotels Group and the Australian institutions to conduct this series of innovative training programmes in China. This unique collaboration opens a new chapter in tourism and hospitality education in China and will highlight the importance of quality training and talent development in China's rapidly-growing hospitality industry."