12 SA students selected to work at top Mauritius hotels

Twelve students from Gauteng have jetted off to Mauritius to embark on an exciting five-month placement at three leading 5-star hotels on the stunning Indian Ocean island.

The students – from Capsicum Culinary Studio’s Rosebank and Pretoria campuses – have already been exposed to the South African culinary scene, and will now gain international experience. This not only broadens their culinary skills but also exposes them to different cultures, cuisines and industry practices, says their training co-ordinator Sifiso Chiloane.

Six of the students have been assigned to the JW Marriott Hotel, four to the Lux Belle Mare Hotel and two will work at the Constance Prince Maurice Hotel.

Chiloane says the three hotels in Mauritius “understand the value of providing international exposure to aspiring culinary professionals and were eager to welcome our students into their establishments”.

The third-year students were selected based on their performance, dedication and potential. Chiloane says “in addition to academic performance, we also considered factors such as attendance, punctuality, teamwork and a strong work ethic. These qualities are essential for success in a professional culinary environment.”

This is the culinary school’s first placement of students in Mauritius under its WIL programme. Previously, students have been connected with internship opportunities and job placements in other parts of the world, including the US and Dubai.

Capsicum is SA’s largest culinary school with six campuses across the country. One of the most exciting aspects for Capsicum students is the opportunity offered to participate in its Work Integrated Learing (WIL) programme – combining classroom learning with supervised work placements. This not only bridges the gap between theory and practice but gives students a chance to enhance future career prospects by developing a network and industry contacts.