Kangan Batman students take out top State awards
25 November 2004
Elif Tanriverdi
Kathryn Sweeney and Ben Schmidt-Pereira
Four students from Kangan Batman TAFE took out first, second and fourth prizes in the prestigious State Government Tourism Students Business Initiative awards today.
Elif Tanriverdi, 19, from Brunswick, won first prize for her business plan for a new tourism venture "T. Lounge Café" set in the Yarra Valley area.
Elif's ambition is to be independent and successful with the aim to become a manager of a resort or hotel. Her teacher, Karen Burgmann says Elif is "a dedicated student who has developed during the course from very quiet and shy to a confident hard working and capable young lady."
"Elif has participated in all the activities run by the department such as registration at functions, European EXPO, Grampians Eco tourism study tour, and many social events held by Kangan Batman TAFE. She has always mixed well with her fellow students. She has many friends and is known to enjoy the Melbourne cafe scene," said Ms Burgmann.
Second prize was won by the team of Ben Schmidt-Pereira and Kathryn Sweeney whose proposal for a tourism venture also won first prize in the Kangan Batman TAFE internal business plan awards this week. Benjamin is an international student from Germany who was also Kangan Batman TAFE's Outstanding International Student in 2003.
The fourth prize was awarded to Dima Ladkani for her proposal for the "Little Marakesh" restaurant and takeaway for Carlton. Dima's plan described a Moroccan vegetarian cuisine, alcohol free which is open six days a week and caters for 80 people.
Service Skills Victoria has established the "Developing Tourism Business Leaders" Awards aimed at students studying tourism, hospitality and culinary arts in Victoria.
The awards are an innovative employment development exercise for final year students to develop innovative small business concepts and business plans for tourism products. The business plans were judged by a panel of industry representatives on the feasibility of the business, product innovation and knowledge of the tourism industry.
Kangan Batman TAFE has a proud history of success in the awards taking out major prizes each year since its inception:
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In 1999, two students from Kangan Batman TAFE shared first prize.
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In 2000, a Diploma of Tourism student repeated this success, winning the first prize of an $8,000 overseas study tour.
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In 2001, Kangan Batman TAFE students won 2nd, 5th and 6th position.
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In 2002, Kangan Batman TAFE students won 2nd, 3rd, 4th prizes and a commendation prize out of the competition's six prizes. (The competition did not run in 2003.)
"Participating in the initiative is an excellent way for tourism students to round off their studies, as it gives them a good understanding for the realities of business," said Christine Pontin, Manager of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism.
"The program prepares students for starting their own tourism business if they wish. This in now especially important because the current problems in international tourism created by world events have meant the local tourism industry is booming, making way for a positive climate for new tourism business in Victoria," she said.
The awards are sponsored by Tourism Victoria, the City of Melbourne and the state Department for Victorian Communities. Major sponsors are the Victorian Tourism Industry Council, the Mansion Hotel Werribee and Johanna Seaside Cottages. Other sponsors are AAA Tourism and VECCI.
