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Three students from ROC Mondriaan’s hospitality campus have won awards at the AEHT European Hospitality Championship in Ferrara, Italy. Nicky Canters Visscher (19) from Voorburg and Michiel den Haan (18) from Rotterdam won gold. Esmee Liefhebber (18) from Alphen aan den Rijn took bronze. A total of eight students from ROC Mondriaan’s hospitality campus took part in the international competition, which attracted over 500 students from more than 100 schools.
The 39th edition of the Annual Conference & Competition organised by the European Association of Hotel and Tourism Schools (AEHT) took place from 2 to 7 November. Students from across Europe demonstrated their skills in the fields of hospitality, tourism and gastronomy during various competitions
The three medallists from ROC Mondriaan are:
What makes the AEHT unique is that students do not compete individually, but work in partnership with a student from a foreign hotel school. Together, they carry out an assignment within their field of study under time pressure. This requires not only professional knowledge, but also communication skills, flexibility and teamwork. For Michiel den Haan, gold medallist in the Wine Service category, this international collaboration was a special experience. “Working with someone you barely know was exciting. But we complemented each other well. When we heard we’d won gold, we could hardly believe it!” Esmee Liefhebber also looks back on the competition positively. “Working with students from other countries taught me a lot. I’m incredibly proud that we won bronze together! It was lovely to get to know their culture.” Nicky Canters Visscher, who won gold in the Vegetarian Cuisine category, describes his experience as follows: “Cooking under time pressure with a teammate I didn’t know was quite a challenge. But everything fell into place. Winning gold was truly the icing on the cake!”
Participation was preceded by a selection and preparation process. Students were selected and prepared for the international competition via the Hospitality Campus Competitions platform and the Talent Team at the International Hotel and Management School. The selection took place through preliminary rounds. Students taking part in the excellence programme are keen to go that extra mile. They are supported in this by subject teachers and their placement organisations, so that they can further develop their talents and realise their ambitions. This year, ROC Mondriaan took part in eight different competition categories with eight students. The participants came from three schools within the Hospitality Campus: Hospitality and Facility Services, the International Hotel and Management School, and Tourism, Leisure and Events.
The AEHT offers students more than just the chance to win medals. They gain international experience, measure their professional knowledge against that of students from other countries, and learn to work both independently and collaboratively under time pressure. “International vocational competitions are much more than just a competition. Students develop their craftsmanship, self-confidence and professional attitude in an international setting. They learn to work together, push their boundaries and discover what they are capable of as future hospitality professionals. We are incredibly proud of their dedication and development,” says Ilja van Reeuwijk-Jopp – Talent Team Coordinator at the International Hotel and Management School of ROC Mondriaan.
The AEHT offers students the opportunity to gain international experience, measure their skills against those of students from other countries and forge links with future colleagues in the field. The three medals are a fine reward for their preparation and hard work.
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