The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, BSc. Tourism Management programme is on the list of Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools for 2024, ranked by CEOWORLD Magazine. According to Caroline, JD, Esq., Chief Economist & Senior Analyst of CEOWORLD, the “Mona School of Business and Management at The University of the West Indies, Jamaica was ranked No. 118 in 2024, and for the first time, a School from the Caribbean has appeared in our ranking. Congratulations.”
The ranking award includes a Ranking Seal and Certificate signed by the Chairman of the Management Board and Dr. Amarendra Bhushan Dhiraj.
The ranking list has The Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University ranked No. 1 and the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada ranked No. 2. The Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University ranked No. 3. The achievement of rank No. 118 is an acknowledgement of the resourcefulness in teaching and learning, leading research, and graduate employability of the Mona School of Business and Management’s tourism programme. The specific results were a Learning and Research Rank of 45.03, an Alumni Network Rank of 45.13, an Entrepreneurship Rank of 45.3, and an Overall Rank of 45.15. The ranking award is granted based on a survey of employers, industry professionals, graduates, and recruiters using seven criteria including academic reputation, global brands influence that score 20% each, and, admission eligibility, employers feedback, job placement rate, and specialization that account for 10% each.
In a reaction to the news, Dr. Michelle McLeod, Senior Lecturer at the Mona School of Business and Management stated “This is a personal achievement for my Colleagues and I, in the tourism discipline. It is also an achievement for an island nation and a developing country.” On commenting about the tourism programme Dr. McLeod mentioned, “The programme was harmonized with similar programmes at The UWI Cave Hill and St. Augustine Campuses in 2015.
As part of that process, a new Capstone course entitled ‘Caribbean Tourism’ was introduced to the Mona Campus.” Dr. McLeod also highlighted two tourism research projects, one about resilient and sustainable Caribbean tourism policies that is being done in collaboration with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Caribbean Tourism Researchers Network of the International Tourism Studies Association, and the University of Central Florida, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and another research study about sustainable tourism in Bluefields, Jamaica, in collaboration with Missouri State University.
The award follows an evaluation of seven crucial metrics. Namely, i. Perceived global brand influence; ii. Recruiters’ responses; iii. Employers’ feedback; iv. Job placement rate; v. Admission eligibility; vi. Specialization, and; vii. Academic reputation.
In sharing the pride of the significant achievement, Ms Beienetch Watson, Lecturer -Tourism, Hospitality & Events at MSBM stated “The recognition of the UWI, MSBM’s Tourism Management Programme as one of the ‘World’s Best Hospitality and Tourism Programme for 2024’ by CEOWorld Magazine is an immense source of pride. The acknowledgment as one of the top 118 Hospitality & Tourism management programmes by a leading global business magazine is an amazing testament to the quality of our programmes, the dedication of the MSBM’s faculty and staff, and of course, the competitiveness of our incredible graduates. We certainly do not take this prestigious award lightly. CEOWorld Magazine with its core audience of CEOs, CFOs and high-ranking business executives from around the world, has a global following of more than 12.4 million. Furthermore, the magazine’s use of a rigorous methodology to independently rank hospitality and tourism programmes in 108 countries inspires our complete confidence in the objectivity of its assessment. We are proud that the UWI/MSBM’s Tourism Management programme emerged as one of only three programmes offered in Latin-America and the Caribbean to receive this award; as well as the only Caribbean or Small Island Developing State to given the prestigious recognition.
As we celebrate with renewed confidence, we also recommit to strengthening the brand power of the University of the West Indies through our continuous innovation and provision of world class hospitality and tourism management programmes to the future leaders of Caribbean tourism”.
The BSc. Tourism Management programme at the Mona School of Business and Management prepares students for careers in hospitality tourism and the service industries. Students study courses in Caribbean Tourism, Destination Marketing, Event Management, Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Management, and Transport and Travel. Industry preparation also involves three internships during the summer months for the duration of the programme.
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