Hospitality Student Experience

At Disney World I had a chance to meet and work with people from countries I never heard of and discovered interesting new things about how coming from different cultures can affect the way we eat, live, work, and enjoy life My interpersonal skills significantly improved as I started opening up with strangers, as I started talking to them and getting used to working with them and be able to adjust myself in order to fit in a new environment The time I spent at Disney also taught me a lot on flexibility and critical thinking skills as not everything is going to happen exactly as planned so being able to make wise decisions when unexpected things occur is vital in a people-oriented industry like hospitality Overall, I do think I have gained a lot of things that will help my selfdevelopment personally and professionally.

I think I managed to learn a lot about how to treat and talk to people from different backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, educational levels, etc. I do believe that one doesn’t need to know about as many cultures as possible, it’s a good thing to learn about new people and their cultures but the important thing is you must learn how to treat people with respect as a human being first.

Disney is a big corporation, and I was able to learn a lot from them about professionalism in terms of workplace etiquette, culture, language, and communication I learned that showing up on time for work is one of the most important factors indicating that you’re a responsible employee Being a Disney cast member, how you present yourself is how people see Disney through you which is why I have always been careful with my words, my actions, and every compliment I gave to the guests At Disney, we’re “Cast Member” because while at work, I will have to be “on show” which means whenever I’m able to be seen by guests, I will have to keep the “magic” going by taking care of guests and never show negativity

One piece of advice I would give to give to Disney program’s future co-op students: “I know that having a chance to work for Disney will enhance your skills, your resume, and your knowledge about one of the most famous hospitality companies so don’t miss out the chances that you get to learn; however, don’t forget to also have fun, to enjoy every moment you have at Disney because the experiences and the friendships you have there are going to be lifelong”

The co-op program has given me a chance to try new things, live in a different place, meet new people, and learn more about new cultures. After having this unique experience as a co-op student, I am motivated to become more professional and eager to learn new knowledge to work for big companies. The program has also fueled my passion as an international hospitality professional who provides excellent service and creates unique and lasting relationships with guests coming from around the world.

Hailey Minh Thy Lai Hospitality Management Student

Highlights and Milestones to Support the Student Affairs

Foundational Plan in 2022 to Celebrate:

A Career Peer Facilitator program implemented in Fall 2022 First Career Peer Training as part of the Student Affairs Leadership Institute in August 2022

Aspects of an employer and student engagement plan implemented in 2022 and ongoing in 2023

Career Studio on the Road – Workshops made available for faculty and departmental areas to book in as of Fall 2022, and a suite of programming and support

The launch of the AI resume optimization tool was in place for Fall 2022 and has been built into Career Studio support

Initiated first Student Affairs Student Leadership Institute for program areas with the Student Affairs - supporting over 60 student staff and volunteers led by PSL, OCCEL, Career Studio, and Thrive

Launch of employer and student engagement activities happened in Fall 2022 through Career Connections, Employer Appreciation, and Labour Market Roundtables

Director of the CEL serves on the BC WIL council and was appointed vice-chair in May 2022

Several of the CEL WIL faculty serve on committees affiliated with ACE-WIL and CEWIL Canada showcasing a professional commitment to advancing the field and practice within VIU, which will add value to the WIL Practitioner Community of Practice launching Spring 2023

Launch of the Community of Practice in 2022: Student Employment, Training & Leadership Colead by Student Employment and the CEL

Funding partnership with the Alumni Association for the Career Studio programming

Addition of the Experiential Learning Module to CareerVIU

Mission

The CEL provides quality educational opportunities that employ effective teaching and learning strategies in experiential learning and career education that contribute to meaningful employment

Vision

Through the design of WIL courses and activities, CEL collaborates with other decanal areas to provide an integrative, practical approach that contributes holistically to students’ development

Values

Experiential Learning

Community Engagement

Diversity

Inclusion

Excellence