THRIVE EDITION 2, 2021 I N S P I R I N G CONFIDENCE
To find out more contact us on: Tourism | Hospitality Management | Amadeus Global Distribution System | Basic Barista Skills | Revenue Management | Preserving Food in Hospitality Industry | Healthy Cooking Operations Offered onsite and/or online to individuals or groups uj.ac.za/sth sthadmin@uj.ac.za Looking to reskill or upskill? STH has just the programme to suit your needs. We offer Short Learning Programmes in a variety of fields: To find out more contact us on: Tourism | Hospitality Management | Amadeus Global Distribution System | Basic Barista Skills | Revenue Management | Preserving Food in Hospitality Industry | Healthy Cooking Operations Offered onsite and/or online to individuals or groups uj.ac.za/sth @sthatuj @sthatuj @sthatuj sthadmin@uj.ac.za Looking to reskill or upskill? STH has just the programme to suit your needs. We offer Short Learning Programmes in a variety of fields:
Contents 2 Supporting a diverse and inclusive tourism economy “We can be our own worst enemies and research tells us that we criticise ourselves more than anybody else does. Consider who has control over you. An internal locus of control is the degree to which we believe that we, as opposed to external forces and/or people, have control over the outcome of events in our lives, (Julian B. Rotter, 1954)” What does inspiring confidence mean to you? In today’s uncertain world, how can you take inspire confidence in and those around you? Read more on page 3, as Ms. Karen Borain shares her perspective on what it means to inspire confidence... Feature Story: “Inspiring confidence” 7 9 13 What skills does the industry need to support its recovery? Plant-based Diet and your Footprint Tourism & Hospitality with Integrity 5 Navigating the Journey of Becoming an African Tourism Scholar EDITORIAL Editor: Ms. Kagiso Mosue | Design & Layout: Mr. Edmond Hlophe, Back to Back Social Marketing
RESILIENCE BEYOND Wow…2021 had us digging really deep! Where, we thought resilience was important - and it is - we quickly realized the importance of adaptability too. Resilience is when we respond and survive an external event and adaptability is thriving beyond the event (Mckinsey)…no longer about bouncing back but about bouncing forward. For those of us in higher education and especially in the Tourism and Hospitality space, we have realised that in our bouncing forward we have to unlock innovation and often this can be done even better when we pay attention to issues of diversity and inclusion. The past year has taught us that we must not ‘disguise’ the differences that we have - as in times of crises these show up and cause damage to teams, industries sectors. So as we move forward let us remember to acknowledge all voices and act more courageously in terms of changing systems, as we tackle some of the complex problems at hand. As STH, we are adapting and bouncing forward, which is made possible through the power of our diverse relationships with our alumni, industry partners, passionate and dedicated staff and our current cohort of students – who inmany instances are our greatest teachers. They have chosen this sector during the most challenging times, and together, we have to keep inspiring confidence in the future of tourism. Sadly, the confidence of our graduates and employees in the sector has been dented. So as I was thinking about what inspires confidence for me, the following came tomind: • Consistency, top quality product and service • Leaders and organisations that learn fromdiverse experiences and mistakes • Using the lessons learnt to continuously improve • Listening and appreciating difference • Collaborating with others (other disciplines and fields of study) • Take people along the journey of change • Celebrating our successes As the STHwe strive to inspire confidence by always innovating around teaching and learning; improving our work integrated experiences and learning; conducting research that has impact and where the findings find its way into influencing public policy. We trust that our ranking as number one in Africa, and 18th globally by the prestigious ShanghaiRankings in addition to being the sought after - School of choice- at a South African university- to study tourism and hospitality -inspires confidence about the future of the sector. Let’s all continue to bounce forward and inspire confidence. Prof Diane Abrahams, Director, STH
2 THRIVE Edition 2 A global first: Supporting a diverse and inclusive tourism economy On 21 September 2021, Airbnb announced a new three-year commitment in South Africa to address barriers to becoming a tourism entrepreneur, and to help rebuild a more inclusive and resilient domestic tourism economy. The commitment, focused on infrastructure, training and investment, builds on Airbnb’s 2017 USD $1million commitment in Africa to boost community-led tourism projects, and the Africa Academy, which has trainedmore than 300 Hosts who earnedmore than R2.8 million in 18months*. Building a stronger andmore sustainable tourism industry in South Africa will take collaboration from all stakeholders, including Airbnb, and will require balanced and evidence-based regulation. In June, Airbnb set out its support for a simple, online and proportionate national registration system in South Africa as part of a five-point plan to re-boost tourism in the wake of the pandemic, and promote an inclusive and sustainable future for tourism. Three new commitments will widen and support inclusion in the tourism economy by supporting existing tourism entrepreneurs, helping remove barriers to entry, and enabling a new generation of South Africans to benefit from the tourism economy, as travel returns following the pandemic. 1. Infrastructure – Tackling digital and financial accessibility With less than half of South Africa’s rural population connected to the internet**, digital exclusion poses a significant barrier to entry for many potential tourism entrepreneurs. To tackle the digital divide, Airbnb has partnered with Ikeja, a company focused on providing fast, affordable Wi-Fi to townships. Over the next two years we will work together with Ikeja to provide at least 100 Airbnb Academy Hosts and their communities with freeWi-Fi. Each of these 100 Hosts will become aWi-Fi hotspot within their community, giving 100’s of others access, resulting in a powerful network effect. 2. Training – Empowering a new generation of tourism entrepreneurs Since Airbnb launched the Africa Academy in 2017, it has trained more than 300 entrepreneurs in Townships and rural areas, who earnedmore than R2.8million in 18months*. In a global first, Airbnb has partnered with the University of Johannesburg School of Tourism and Hospitality to expand the Airbnb Academy program to at least 1000 students over the next three years. The first cohort participated in the programme for four weeks in October. Third year student in Food and Beverage Operations, Lee-Ann Duma, won the UJ 2021 STH Airbnb entrepreneurship challenge. The challenge involved coming up with an experience to be hosted on the Airbnb platform. Lee-Ann has won R7500 voucher to use on Airbnb and will be treating her family this December In addition, Aibnb will work with partners to take the Academy tomore communities in South Africa, including working with the Public Private Growth Initiative and theWaterbergmunicipality to run the Academy in the District Development Model pilot. Airbnb To read the full article, click here
3 THRIVE Edition 2 “Inspiring confidence is about having firstly, a belief in yourself and secondly a belief in the potential of others”. Oh how I wish that I knew then what I know now! With experience and learning comes wisdom. Starting out in my career my focus was on proving myself as a manager and being in control. As I have built confidence over the years I have learned that improving myself is so much more productive and positive and ensures that not only do I grow and learn, but so do others with whom I interact. I remember reading a quote from an interview with an actor who said: “I spent my 20’s and 30’s worrying about what people were saying about me only to realise in my 40’s they weren’t”. We can be our own worst enemies and research tells us that we criticise ourselves more than anybody else does. Consider who has control over you. An internal locus of control is the degree to which we believe that we, as opposed to external forces and/or people, have control over the outcome of events in our lives. (Julian B. Rotter, 1954). Being confident means having a positive internal locus of control – taking responsibility for self and your own actions. The belief that “I did it” not “they did it too me”. As leaders, whatever age or experience level or role we have, encouraging a sense of self-confidence in the people around us results in win-win outcomes. However we can, instead of inspiring confidence, sow insecurity through our own insecurities and tight controls. To inspire confidence, we have to start with self - be confident yourself and grow and learn at every opportunity. There is so much available that we can learn daily and in fact have to curate what we learn so that we don’t become overwhelmed. Know your goals and focus your learning towards those goals. Jerry Mabena the Chairperson of the STH board says it so well - “We don’t need to know it all and must also unlearn and relearn”. As the CEO of You (Pty) Ltd who is on your team? To inspire confidence, have a mentor to guide you and whose experience you can tap into and most importantly will give you direct feedback for improvement and a coach to keep you focused. Consider who is on your cheerleading team – people around you who encourage you and cheer you over the line. You will not reach the highest levels of success on your own. Be an active listener, knowing you don’t have all the answers but can tap into your Inspiring Confidence Ms. Karen Borain, Training and Development Manager at Tsogo Sun Hotels and Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation
4 THRIVE Edition 2 Photo by Daniel Jensen team (including your mentor and coach). There’s a lot of pressure to be the person with all the answers. Far more valuable are powerful thinking questions. Finding the right questions might be the most important thing we need to do. Be present and listen to really hear and not to respond – get out of your own head and be curious to learn more. Learn from mistakes – every successful entrepreneur or CEO will tell you they made many mistakes on their journey that they learned from. Celebrate your wins – take time out to reflect and celebrate before moving on. Show up as yourself and be authentic consistently so that people know who to expect. Honor commitments and partnerships – you will reap the rewards of collaborating in a stimulating environment. To close, some reflection questions to ask yourself: 1. How do others experience me when I am at my personal best? 2. What impact do I make? 3. When am I at my personal best? 4. How do I feel when I am at my personal best? 5. What do I need to do to be at my personal best consistently? 6. Who supports me to be at my personal best?
5 THRIVE Edition 2 NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY OF BECOMING AN AFRICAN TOURISM SCHOLAR Prof. Tembi Tichaawa, Academic Head, Tourism “I am passionate about research that focusses on sport tourism events and tourism developmental issues in the pan African context”. An inaugural lecture represents a significant milestone in an academic’s career. On 16 August 2021, the University of Johannesburg hosted the Professorial Inauguration for STH Academic Head for Tourism, Professor Tembi Tichaawa. Prof Tichaawa’s ultimate strength lies in his ability to generate knowledge in the field of tourism development. He has managed to build bridges among continental universities where tourism development is promoted as an academic discipline. Since 2015 his focus has shifted towards turism related issues in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon and Botswana. These are all geared towards adding a pan-African dimension to tourism epistemologies, as well as to the UJ decolonisation agenda. Below is an exceprt of his lecture, titled: Navigating the Journey of Becoming an African Tourism Scholar Who is an African scholar? The past two decades has seen a major transformation in higher education and learning. Primarily, this transformation has been related to the need for increased African scholarship and the need to understand, and present, the African context. Indeed, there is an urgent need to move away from Eurocentric knowledge production and a Eurocentric worldview, which prevails on the continent as a consequence of the region’s colonial past. Additionally, it is essential to address and challenge the misconception of indigenous knowledge production as backwards, or primitive. According to Makgoba and Seepe (2004), the African scholar is one who addresses African concerns and aspirations, holds a sense of social responsibility and incorporates diverse views. When examining what, or who an African scholar might be, a simple explanation could be that they are African born, or an academic who has focused on decolonizing and reconfiguring knowledge (or disciplines) in order to reflect the African experience. This latter description is of particular significance within the tourism discipline owing to the importance of the sector for many African economies, and the positioning of tourism for economic growth and development. I believe that in order to truly grow and develop tourism in Africa, it is crucial to understand how the sector works within the African context, taking into consideration its social, economic and political dimensions. Quality African-centred tourism research is therefore imperative to inform policy and development. I pride myself on being an African scholar and contributing to the broadening
6 THRIVE Edition 2 of tourism knowledge on the continent whilst acknowledging the unique nature and characteristics of the continent. How did my My journey all began? Coming to South Africa in 1997, like many young children growing up, my dream was to become a soccer star. In fact, prior to this, I had played football up to division 2 of the National Soccer League AS A goal keeper in Cameroon. Many of my friends, classmates at school and members of my community were convinced that this dream would become a reality for me. However, when I arrived in South Africa, I very quickly realised how challenging ordinary life in the country was and soon found myself looking for other economic ways to survive. Work was not easy to come by. Joining the informal economy was the only choice I had to raise any income and that is how I became a car guard. After spending about eight months guarding cars in Cape Town, I was offered a job as a security officer at a hotel. While higher education was always on my mind, it was from here onwards that my passion to further my education was truly ignited. After working in various capacities and saving up some money, I was eventually able to enrol to further my university education in 2006. This decision was strongly rewarded when I graduated with a PhD at the UKZN in 2014. From being a car guard, it had taken me 17 years to progress to get a Doctorate qualification. Through my academic journey and in my quest to be an African scholar, I have conducted research across several African countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Gabon, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria. To watch the full lecture, Click Here:
7 THRIVE Edition 2 This time last year, at the height of the global pandemic, I wrote in Thrive about the need to reframe the support we give to students in planning their careers in the industry. I highlighted the loss of confidence in the industry among young people as a direct result of COVID-19 and advocated collaboration between universities and colleges, the tourism and hospitality industry, industry associations and government agencies in order to assure students that they have a meaningful future in the industry. Undoubtedly, the lessons of the past year, both globally and in the South African context, have taught us that such collaborative thinking and action remains essential as we move, cautiously, towards recovery. At the same time, it is now opportune to reflect on the changed world that we live in and how the new tourism and hospitality ‘normal’ has altered the skills-set that graduates require in order to succeed in the industry. We have witnessed operational but also cultural changes in the industry. We have also seen evidence of changes in the working and living expectations of young people – what our students want from their post-graduation lives. Not all of this changed landscape can be attributed to the effects of COVID-19 alone. We also need to factor into consideration the consequences of more general generational change, including growing social and environmental awareness and activism among the young. The consequences of COVID-19, however, have changed physical and psychological relationships between customers and the operating team in our industry as well as how those employed in tourism and hospitality businesses, at all levels, relate to each other. The physical barriers we now see in place at the frontline of our operations (screens, masks, social distancing, sanitizing protocols) symbolize more than the safety of both guests and employees, they reframe the very notion of what we understand by hospitality and service. They can take key aspects of body language communications out of the equation and aurally filter verbal interaction as well. Workplace relations have also changed. Many back-office roles moved to home working during the pandemic and there is mixed evidence as to whether they will return to the ‘past normal’ in the medium to long-term. Therefore, those entering the industry may find themselves permanently detached from their notional place of work and from their colleagues and managers. In the workplace, as well, they will need to learn to navigate a significantly different physical, systems and inter-personal environment, possibly with a greater reliance on AI and robotisation, both of which have accelerated in their adoption in tourism and hospitality as a result of the pandemic. So what are the graduate skills implications of this changed world as it edges towards recovery? There is no doubt that the industry will still cry out for highly skilled graduates, strong on market comprehension, able to solve problems and make decisions under pressure and with all-round strong communication skills. Prof Tom Baum, STH Distinguished Visiting Professor, Professor of Tourism Employment University of Strathclyde Business School Tourism and Hospitality: What skills does the industry need to support its recovery?
At the same time, the crisis has also highlighted the need for high levels of reciprocal flexibility, reciprocal in that both businesses and employees need to be able to change and adapt to each other and to external influences, including customers, with little warning or planning. Demand for innovation and enterprise as well as a capacity for self-management among graduates is also likely to grow but employers, having sought such skills, must respond by giving their staff opportunity and license to utilize them in their operations. In sum, students will graduate with expectations that these new skills that they have acquired will be tested from day one. The onus, as a result, is on businesses and managers to give graduates rein, to support them with opportunities to demonstrate their skills and, on occasion, to make mistakes as part of their learning. 8 THRIVE Edition 2 Photo by Fabio Comparelli on Unsplash “The physical barriers we now see in place at the frontline of our operations (screens, masks, social distancing, sanitizing protocols) symbolize more than the safety of both guests and employees, they reframe the very notion of what we understand by hospitality and service”.
Celebrity Psychologist and Integrity Specialist, Charissa Bloomberg together with iFacts, are thrilled to announce the launch of their first integrity course at the University of Johannesburg School of Tourism and Hospitality. The course is both theoretical and practical, allowing students to learn the basics of integrity and giving them the opportunity to put this into practice. The programme has been rolled out through the School of Tourism and Hospitality’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) coordinator, Tracy Daniels. Bloomberg is so grateful to her for opening her doors to the students to learn and grow in a much needed arena. Integrity and soft skills are essential for 3rd and 4th year students who will enter the workplace for their WIL internships. Daniels has said that ‘it is the responsibility of the university to not only equip students with the academic knowledge for success but also with the soft skills that are increasingly demanded in the workplace. Following the devastating impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on the tourism and hospitality industries, students who act with integrity as they enter these industries are essential for recovery and future sustainability. As we groom future entrepreneurs, innovative thinkers and leaders, integrity is an essential consideration’ After qualifying through an assessment and signing an Integrity Pledge, a certificate of integrity is issued to each successful student. The online modules are combined with virtual training, talks, and integrity assessments. Bloomberg brings excitement by having guests on her training to share experiences of how integrity pays in the workplace. Thanks to her guest David Paul Allan who shared his real life law firm experiences. Bloomberg has been working hard to implement Integrity training internationally and to make it accessible to everyone. She believes integrity is essential in all walks of life, and this is ground breaking. Thanks to iFacts for their collaboration in developing the programme. Jenny Reid (CEO, iFacts) says, ‘’sadly in the times we live integrity is not part of daily life and leaders often do not lead with integrity. We have an obligation to encourage integrity in the lives of the youth and the project with UJ has been great start for this”. This is a break through as the students are our future leaders and we need integrity development to be part of tertiary education internationally. The students also completed an exciting assignment where they went into the community to display integrity. Tourism & Hospitality with Integrity Charissa Bloomberg, Celebrity Psychologist and Integrity Specialist. CEO Hidden Dimensions and Integrity Forum “We need to raise the integrity meter. Integrity costs nothing, but when you lose it, you lose everything”. 9 THRIVE Edition 2
10 THRIVE Edition 2 Details of the ground breaking assignments with visuals can be provided on request. We have added an extra training program to nominate integrity ambassadors to be role models in their field. Students volunteer to be part of this movement and they have to do a group assignment in order to earn their certificates. Bloomberg hopes that other universities will follow UJ’s lead. She is proud to have Prof Thuli Madonsela as her patron. “We need to raise the integrity meter. Integrity costs nothing, but when it loose it, you lose everything” Charissa Bloomberg iFacts offers integrity leadership online modules. The results of this partnership has been remarkable as all STH final students enrolled for the modules, with positive feedback and suggestions’ given by the students. Ms Bloomberg’s expertise and profile granted her prominent opportunities in the media and entertainment industry. She is best known as the “Integrity Specialist Guru”, radio & TV celebrity psychologist and media activist. Featured on the Faizal Sayed show and South Africa’s award winning breakfast show “Expresso” on multiple series of interviews. Presently her centre of attention is the urge to build integrity in corporate spaces. Focusing on the cost of low integrity in organisations. Bloomberg’s Integrity Forum is honoured to partake in the ambassador’s programme engaging in corporate social responsibility through our UJ team and celebrating STH final years with recognition certification. For more info please go to www.integrityforum.co.za Photo by Joanna Nix-Walkup on Unsplash
11 THRIVE Edition 2 Demand and Supply through Niche Tourism As one of the hardest hit economic sectors, the tourism industry has been viewed as crucial to South Africa’s economic recovery. The sector had been long positioned as a vehicle for inclusive growth of the country, owing to its potential for poverty alleviation, job creation, entrepreneurship and community development. Even more so, in the case of South Africa, the sector has been geared towards economic transformation and empowering (and absorbing) black South Africans in the sector. As a result, South African tourism destinations are being compelled to re-evaluate their practices and study the concept of ‘alternative tourism,’ which has the potential to play a major role in the recovery of the sector and the protection of tourism stakeholders. This, understandably, becomes more paramount considering the adverse effects of COVID-19 to the country’s tourism industry. The STH has continued with their research collaboration with the National Department of Tourism in critically examining the effects of the COVID-19 on the various sectors of tourism in South Africa. The research project, under the management of Prof Tembi Tichaawa, and the principal researchers Prof Christian Rogerson and Prof Jayne Rogerson, is titled ‘Stimulating sector demand and supply through niche tourism’. This research departs from the first phase, which has sought to unpack the effects of COVID-19 on domestic tourism demand and supply. In this phase of the research, the focus has shifted to niche tourism with specific reference to rural tourism regions of the country. This stems from the 2020 Tourism Sector Recovery Plan which recognises that stimulating tourism demand will require the implementation of robust marketing strategies, the ability to act decisively during an uncertain reopening phase under alert level 1 regulations, and responsiveness to changes in consumer preferences necessitating a focus on new-fangled segments. Thus, supply-side interventions should prioritise addressing business continuity problems as well as re-aligning the value chain with new standards and market access. The research assumes that tourism is not a distinct phenomenon and that the term should apply to a “Supply-side interventions should prioritise addressing business continuity problems as well as re-aligning the value chain with new standards and market access. “ Photo by STIL on Unsplash STIMULATING SECTOR By Ms Matilda Mashapa, Part-Time Lecturer, Tourism & Ms Refiloe Lekgau, Lecturer, Tourism
12 THRIVE Edition 2 broad range of travel-related activities. Accordingly, the tourism sector should be regarded as a widespread and continuously evolving sector. Thus, this research proceeds from macro-scale supply and demand considerations in the tourism sector, focusing on niche tourism and the issues associated with demand and supply for certain types of niche tourism, such as rural tourism. This is because rural tourism stands to be a relatively unexplored and poorly understood form of tourism in the country. Despite this, the form of tourism supports the livelihoods of many Black South Africans in the country and hold the potential for the sector to make a difference in economic transformation in the country. The main objectives of the study are as follows: • To examine the state of niche tourism demand and supply in south africa with respect to one selected form of niche tourism, namely rural tourism. • To nalyse challenges presented by covid-19 on tourism demand and supply with respect to one selected form of niche tourism, namely rural tourism. • To analyse opportunities for leveraging niche tourism demand and supply as part of the tourism sector’s recovery plan post covid-19 with the case of rural tourism • To contribute towards development of a framework for strategic interventions to leverage niche tourism in south africa using the case of rural tourism. To obtain such information, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the owners of these businesses. The project is due to be complete by November 2021.
PLANT- BASED DIETS AND YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT 13 THRIVE Edition 2 Dr. Hema Kesa, Director, FERL and Senior Lecturer, Hospitality, STH Dr Eridiong Onyenweaku, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow There is a growing need to boost immunity in order to prevent disease and improve health, which is in line with one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – “Good health and Wellbeing”. Research has shown the role of healthy diets in the prevention of both chronic and infectious diseases. It has been reported that oxidative stress is one of the major causative factors in the induction of many diseases or conditions such as atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, ageing, diabetes mellitus, cancer and immunosuppression. Many plant species and their different parts (leaves, stem, fruits, etc.) have been discovered to contain chemical compounds exhibiting antioxidant properties. These compounds include flavonoids, phenols, vitamins, minerals and carotenoids. Antioxidants possess free radical chain reaction breaking properties. Recently there is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants as antioxidants in reducing oxidative stress-induced tissue injury. Among the numerous naturally occurring antioxidants, ascorbic acid, carotenoids and phenolic compounds are more effective.
14 THRIVE Edition 2 There is a growing need to boost immunity in order to prevent disease and improve health, which is in line with one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – “Good health and Wellbeing”. Noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death (71%) and disability. In South Africa 43% of deaths are due to noncommunicable diseases. On the other hand, land conversion for farming, clearing of our forests for agricultural land use has decreased the sustainability of our food systems. Agriculture alone is responsible for 70% of freshwater withdrawals and water pollution. Decreasing our biodiversity has led to a disruption in our ecosystems which is also caused by global warming and climate change. Agricultural farming as part of our food system has a huge impact on Green House Gas (GHG) and Global warming. About 24% of GHG emissions are due to food systems. One molecule of methane (by-product of enteric fermentation) will trap 21 times more heat than carbon(IV)oxide. In Africa, 39% emissions are from enteric fermentation and 28% from manure left on pastures. Emissions from agriculture have increased annually by 8% in the past 10 years. Since humans are directly responsible for livestock rearing, we are also responsible for livestock-related nitrous oxide (N2O) production. An increase in global demand for meat and dairy products has led to increases in animal wastes with the inevitable increase in nitrogen fertilizer use and nitrous oxide emissions. Nitrous oxide is a GHG and air pollutant that absorbs 310 times more heat than carbon(IV) oxide; 92% of N2O is from agricultural soil management, in particular animal waste storage and management. For those that have a concern on the nutritional quality of plant proteins, a review on the health benefits of plant proteins revealed that complementary sources of protein (from plants) with the essential amino acids is necessary for protein synthesis; combination of pea protein is a good example of a complementary source of plant protein. Furthermore, the epidemiological triangle encompasses the host, agent, and environment (determinants of health). Nutrition and lifestyle are classified as modifiable factors, while genetics is a non-modifiable determinant of health. Modern nutrition focuses on the individual’s nutrient requirements, but integrative nutrition takes a holistic approach including seasons and environment. For instance, a country such as India contributes minimally to the carbon footprint because of the dietary pattern which is predominantly vegetarian. During the current global pandemic of coronavirus, it is reported that increased immunity via intake of antioxidants such as vitamin C, D and zinc-rich plant foods, greatly protect the body against the virus infection and reduce the severity of the disease if contracted. In conclusion, plant foods such as fruits and vegetables require little or no processing and are available in a wide variety in different regions; their consumption should be highly encouraged while consumption of ultraprocessed or artificial foods should be minimized. Food photo created by DCStudio
15 THRIVE Edition 2 The 2021 edition of the STH Alumni and Industry event took place on 22 September. The annual event gathers the UJ academic community, students, and alumni, as well as industry partners to reconnect and celebrate the strides that are being made in the sector. UJ alumni, Mr. Brandon Adams and Mr. Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa were named STH Rising Star and STH Golden Circle Alumnus Award recipients, respectively. The awards are a special feature of the annual event and carry forward the STH tradition of recognising alumni for their contribution to the tourism and hospitality sector. As the recipient of the 2021 Rising Star award, Brandon Adams, City Lodge Hotel Group’s General Manager of Road Lodge Potchefstroom, joins a growing list of talented young and talented alumni who are doing exciting work that sets them apart from their peers. Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa & Brandon Adams The awards are a special feature of the annual event and carry forward the STH tradition of recognising alumni for their contribution to the tourism and hospitality sector. Named 2021 STH Alumni Award Recipients Mr. Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, Prof Diane Abrahams & Mr Brandon Adams Ms. Sumayer Ismael, Mr. Eric Khumalo & Ms. Fatima Gaibee Prof Boitumelo Diale, President UJ Convocation Ms. Karen Borain & Mr Brandon Adams
16 THRIVE Edition 2 The Golden Circle Alumnus award is the oldest award category dating back to 1988. It is presented to alumni who are considered by their peers as remarkable achievers and contributors to the tourism and hospitality at large. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, fits the bill, especially considering his recent work and contribution in helping to steer the sector forward amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tshivhengwa now joins a formidable group of industry leaders who have all built illustrious careers in the sector locally and internationally. The theme for the event ‘inspiring confidence’, spoke to the sense of optimism for the sector, as the world cautiously moves to relax lockdown restrictions and resume domestic and international travel. Guest speaker, futurist, and expert on the future of work, Graeme Codrington, highlighted the need for a change in mindset and stressed the importance of adaptability ahead of more disruptions in the future. Collaboration was a key talking point that started with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place earlier in the day for the rebranded Sun International Auditorium, located at the Kerzner Building of the UJ Bunting Road campus. The importance of collaboration was further emphasised in the remarks made by Prof Boitumelo Diale, President of the UJ Convocation, who urged alumni to continue to pay it forward by getting involved with the initiatives of the university – in particular, the fundraising efforts aimed at assisting students to clear their historical debt. To watch the full recording of the event, visit the STH Facebook page on @sthatuj or click below.
15 THRIVE Edition 2 7 So here we are in 2021, looking ahead to what was supposed to be a wonderful upcoming end of year holiday season, and looking ahead into 2022. And here’s what we’ve got to do – we have all got to learn to be more adaptive. We’ve got to learn to live and work and make decisions and come up with strategies and survive when it is not clear what happens next. Of course, the big issue in the system is COVID-19, and that is the immediate crisis we are facing. But even if COVID-19 was not in the system, I would probably deliver the same message because if we look ahead into the 2020s, we need to expect serious disruptions to come our way, however long COVID -19 takes to get out of the system. If we are just looking at other potential disruptors for Tourism and Hospitality as an industry, climate change is going to be an absolute disruptive force. This will likely change where people live and where they choose to travel. We can think about geopolitical instability, for example changes to Brexit and how they impact on Tourism. We can also think about digital transformation and the impact of technology. It is not just the Covid crisis that we need to mindful of, we have got to learn to deal with disruption. The Travel, Tourism and Hospitality is going to be hit by disruption, after disruption for the foreseeable future. So, what do we do? Ideally, we would like to be able to predict those disruption, get ahead of them and have a plan. Nobody has a crystal ball that can predict the future. However, to begin to make sense of the disruption, we need to build adaptability into our DNA. We need to not just change our plans; we need to be more responsive – more adaptable. There is no doubt that the Covid crisis has been devastating for travel, tourism, and hospitality. I truly hope many businesses do survive. Yet, now that we know that more disruptions in the future are headed our way, the key words I can leave you with is don’t just rebuild, reimagine. Let’s use this opportunity as hard as it is to look at how we can unlearn and re-imagine the future of this sector. By Graeme Codrington,Futurist, Expert on the Future of Work, Unlearner “Covid-19 is the biggest disruptor in a generation, and yet it won’t be the last disruption your organization and industry will face in the next few years” Same Planet Different World To build this adaptability, here are a few points to think about: • Overcome inattentional blindness • Rethink and unlearn • Experiment more
16 THRIVE Edition 2 8 The auditorium located at the University of Johannesburg’s School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH) has been renamed to the Sun International Auditorium. The new name was unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted on Wednesday, 22 September as part of the annual STH Alumni and Industry event. “The auditorium, which seats up to 147 delegates and includes a fully functional foyer amongst its key features, is located in the Kerzner Building, on the University’s Bunting Road campus in Auckland Park, Johannesburg”, explains Operations Manager, Gerald Hamadziripi. “The venue forms part of the STH commercial operations, where we have a few outlets across the UJ campuses under the banner of TheKerzner@UJ”. This encompasses a broad range of offerings including meeting venue, confernence venues, , special event venues, restuarant, coffee shops and food and beverage offerings which can be order via UberEats and Mr D platforms. TheKerzner@UJ commercial outlets include: • Two Conference rooms which can host up to 200 delegates combined • A Culinary theatre which seats up to 54 delegates • A selection of Syndicate meeting rooms and Executive boardrooms • The Alumni Bar and a Tasting room • The Waterford Restaurant • Design Café – a coffee shop • Industrial kitchens in the Centre for Culinary Excellence The Sun International Auditorium is the latest addition in the number of industry brands that have taken up the opportunity to extend their brand footprint within the STH facilities. Other industry partners with brand visibility at the STH include the The City Lodge Hotel Group, Empact, AHA, Tsogo Sun and Tourvest. STH Director, Prof Diane Abrahams noted that the branding opportunity is not only to highlight the partnership with the STH but also serves to raise brand awareness and affinity of industry partners amongst the students. “It is important to realise that not all of our students have exposure to some of the industry players and brands when they start their studies, therefore creating corporate visibility in the various spaces of teaching and learning at the STH is important”. “With the recent announcement of the country moving to the adjusted lockdown level 2, the vaccination process that is underway and COVID-19 infection rates declining, we are really optimistic about the prospects of the meetings and events industry bouncing back in the coming months”, Hamadziripi says. We hope that the situation continues to improve so that delegates can once more book and host their events at our facilities and have first hand experience of our great facilities and contribute to the excellent learning experiences for out students. For more information about the commercial outlets at TheKerzner@UJ, visit www. thekerzneratuj.com “The branding opportunity is not only to highlight the partnership with the STH but also serves to raise brand awareness and affinity of industry partners amongst the students” The School of Tourism and Hospitality Cements Partnership with Sun Interntional with the renaming the Auditorium
19 THRIVE Edition 2 “The goal of the virtual international forum, hosted under the theme, ‘Opening New Horizons’ was to foster tourism collaboration, facilitate an exchange of knowledge and to discuss the strategic alliance between South Africa and China, amid a global pandemic”. On Wednesday, 4th of August 2021, the UJ Confucius Institute (UJCI), the Centre for Africa-China Studies (CACS) and the School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH) collaborated to host the inaugural virtual South Africa-China Tourism Cooperation webinar. The goal of the virtual international forum, hosted under the theme, “Opening New Horizons” was to foster tourism collaboration, facilitate an exchange of knowledge and to discuss the strategic alliance between South Africa and China, amid a global pandemic. Additionally, with STH being one of the best tourism School in Africa, and UJCI being one of the best bridges linking Africa and China, this collaboration was designed to propel UJ to play a leading role in the collaboration of the two countries, dedicated to the tourism industry in two countries. The Forum featured several high-profile speakers and delegates from both countries, amongst them; UJ Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, who delivered the welcoming address, and, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Mr. Fish Amos Mahlalela and Honourable Mr. Li Zhigang, Minister of the People’s Republic of China to South Africa who delivered a keynote address. Congratulatory addresses were delivered by Director General of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China, Mr Xie Jinying, and Mr Liu Shijun, Secretary General of the World Tourism Alliance. Prof. Marwala held the Forum in high regard, and was proud that UJ faculties, institutions, and the community could work together to collectively contribute to society, particularly for the benefit of the tourism industry, which was devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. He shared his wish for UJ could host this high-level international Forum on an annual basis, and that through association with a multitude of high-level partners, UJ could develop strong relations in the tourism sector that will facilitate the development and growth of the discipline. The VC extended his special appreciation to the Co-Director of UJCI & CACS, Prof Peng Yi as well as the Director of STH, Prof Diane Abrahams for their outstanding organisation and execution of the Forum, Other keynote speakers from the Embassy of China, Department of Tourism of South Africa, and China expressed their gratitude to UJ for hosting such a wonderful academic international Forum for the benefit of the tourism industry for the first time in UJ HOSTS INAUGURAL SA-CHINA VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON TOURISM Prof Peng Yi, the Co-Director of the UJ Confucius Institute and Centre for Africa- China Studies.
20 THRIVE Edition 2 Photo by Yu Kato on Unsplash South Africa and China. They expressed their appreciation and hope for the forum to be held again soon and on a continuous basis. The webinar format included two academic sessions highlighting some of the trends, opportunities and challenges confronting the sector in the current global context. The first session was co-chaired, Prof Diane Abrahams, alongside Prof Li Shina from Sun Yat-sen University. The panel included STH research associate and Distinguished Visiting Professor, Prof. Robin Nunkoo, from the University of Mauritius, STH research associate, Dr Albert Kimbu from the University of Surrey, as well as Prof Huang Zhuowei of Sun Yat-sen University. The second academic session, was jointly chaired and commented by Prof Tembi Tichaawa and Research Professor at the STH, Prof Chris Rogerson included a business focus. The panel featured the CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, Mr. Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, Prof Yan Jinsong, Director of the International Institute of China Tourism Academy, and Professor He Liehui representing the Zhejiang Tourism Association. Prof Peng Yi co-chaired the opening ceremony. Director General of Department of Tourism South Africa, Mr Victor Tharage delivered a speech in the closing session. Prof Ylva Rodny-Gumede delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of UJ. The closing session was chaired by Prof Kelvin Bwalya, the vice dean of UJ Business & Economics department. The Forum was broadcast live through the UJ and STH Facebook page. Click here to watch the full proceedings: UJ Facebook sth Facebook
21 THRIVE Edition 2 Post pandemic, the travel, tourism, and hospitality sector is charting a new path for growth. So too is the education sector, and it is in this context that the School of Tourism and Hospitality, has unveiled a range of new short learning programmes for the 2022 academic year. The programmes are offered in the following areas: • Revenue Management • Amadeus Global Distribution System • Basic Barista Skills Training • Preserving Food in the Hospitality Industry • Healthy Cooking Operations “Categorized under the banner of Continuous Education Programmes (CEPs), Short Learning Programmes (SLPs) can simply be regarded as bite-sized but high impact programmes that are specifically designed to meet the demands of the industry and equip individuals with diverse employability skills explains Dr Nicola Theron-Wakelin, STH Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator for the Tourism SLPs. SLPs are relevant for a broad spectrum of candidates, from students and graduates exploring new career paths, to entry level workers looking to familiarise themselves with key concepts relevant to their working environment. Candidates seek skills to upskill and build on their existing knowledge. Some SLP’s generate less than 120 credits, whilst others are noncredit bearing. The programmes are offered on NQF level 5 and above in line with the Higher Education Qualifications Sub Framework (HEQSF). Dr Theron-Wakelin added that “Over the years, SLPs have become an increasingly popular learning option, whilst working in the industry. They are often affordable, accessible, and offer students the flexibility to enhance their skills and knowledge on a continual basis with some being facilitated on an online platform. Accreditation is key and one of the significant advantages of our programmes is that we can easily customise them for operational teams to suit their most pressing skills needs” added Dr Wakelin-Theron. As the principles of sustainability become more entrenched within the hospitality environment, the Food Evolution Research Laboratory (FERL), an entity residing within the STH, aims to deliver high-impact teachings on the latest innovations in healthy cooking and food preservation. “Mindful of the changing consumer lifestyles and dietary habits, our new SLPs leverage our most recent research in this field and offers enriching content on new approaches to enhance hygiene, safety and health in the food preparation environment”, explains Dr Hema Kesa, Senior Lecturer and FERL Director The new SLPs programmes are an addition to the School CEP portfolio which includes entry level programmes Tourism, as well as the popular Hospitality Management Block Release programme. The duration of the SLPs and intake are programme specific. Visit the following website portals to find out more and to apply: • Revenue Management: www.uj.ac.za/sth • Amadeus Global Distribution System: www.thekerzneratuj.com • Basic Barista Skills Training: www.thekerzneratuj.com • Preserving Food in the Hospitality Industry: www.ferl.co.za • Healthy Cooking Operations: www.ferl.co.za New Bite-Sized & High-Impact Short Learning Programmes for Tourism & Hospitality
8 THRIVE Edition 2 22 I iti STH Masters in Tourism and Hospitality postgraduate student, Ms. Gifty Efua Koufie, is amongst the winners selected for the 2020/2021 World Tourism Forum Lucerne (WTFL) Young Talent Programme. This follows her recent participation in the Forum’s Innovation Festival that was held from 14 to 16 November in Andermatt, Switzerland. Gifty Efua Koufie is an international student who graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Technology in Hospitality Management and is an awardee of the Global Excellence Stature Scholarship. Her research interest is underpinned by the boundless potential of technology in transforming the tourism and hospitality industry in the fourth industrial revolution In March 2021 Ms. Koufie was announced as one of the 12 finalists in the Programme. Her project titled: the use of nutrition apps in the hospitality industry to promote healthy food choices, won top prize in the diversity category. Working under the supervision of STH Senior Lecturer and Director of the Food Evolution Research Laboratory, Dr. Hema Kesa, the project examines the use of nutritionrelated apps amongst millennials in Johannesburg, South Africa and how the hospitality industry can harness and integrate mobile nutrition applications to enhance the experiences and the welfare of guests. Click Here to watch and learn more about the project: Masters student Gifty Koufie Wins big at the 2020/21 World Tourism Forum Lucerne Young Talent Programme
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