Germiston’s Kelly Prinsloo (28) was awarded a bursary in a competition run by HOT 102.7 FM and the Independent Institute of Education (IIE) School of Hospitality and Service Management (IIE HSM).
The year-long bursary, valued at nearly R55 000, includes textbooks and uniforms and is one of three awarded in the contest.
Prinsloo will pursue a hospitality higher certification course at the IIE HSM campus in Rosebank.
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She described the opportunity as life-changing, noting that she had never before won a competition.
Prinsloo began her studies on July 31, shortly after her family moved to New Zealand, leaving her and her older sister behind.
“When I received the news, my sister and I were ecstatic and shared tears of joy while brainstorming about my future,” Prinsloo said.
“I had three jobs – bar supervisor, audit reports for a supermarket in Gauteng, and a window-cleaning business. Now, I see myself as a manager of a prestigious hotel in the next five years.”
Prinsloo expressed gratitude to the judges who selected her, allowing her to follow her dreams.
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The IIE HSM’s hospitality higher certification course gives learners an in-depth understanding of management principles as they apply to hospitality operations.
The programme equips students with the skills to address challenges in various hospitality departments, deliver services efficiently, solve problems effectively, and understand customer segmentation and target markets.
Graduates also gain knowledge of the legal requirements impacting hospitality businesses and basic accounting principles relevant to the industry.
