IUBAT holds seminar on emerging opportunities in aviation, hospitality
Dhaka: International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) held a seminar titled "Emerging Opportunities and Professional Trajectories in the Aviation and Hospitality Sectors" at its premises on August 11.
The event, organized by the university's College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM), gave students the opportunity to interact directly with industry experts and professionals, deepening their understanding of the two sectors.
Kazi Wahidul Alam, Editor of The Bangladesh Monitor; T. Kevin McIntyre, General Manager at Hyatt Palace Dhaka Uttara; and Saif Ul Alam Tanzu, Associate Director of Sales at InterContinental Dhaka Hotel, attended the seminar as guest speakers, while the department's Assistant Professor Shafiqul Islam moderated the session.
Dr. Mohammad Badruddoza Talukder, Associate Professor and Chairman at CTHM, formally opened the program with a welcome note. He said digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence, automation, and smart systems, have rapidly evolved the aviation and hospitality industry.
The transformation has introduced diverse professional roles that fresh graduates often overlook, he said, adding that insights from the industry experts attending the event would help students prepare for such roles alongside their academic knowledge.
Bangladesh's hospitality market expanding
Speaking at the event, Guest Speaker Kazi Wahidul Alam said Bangladesh's hospitality industry has expanded considerably, with more international-standard hotels, boutique properties and resorts emerging across the country. He said this growth is creating new opportunities for employment, investment, and tourism development.
Discussing aviation and tourism, Alam said Bangladesh still has considerable room to expand its aviation market and develop its tourism potential. He stressed the need for effective marketing, branding, and concrete action plans to turn the country's attractions into marketable tourism products.
Addressing students, Alam urged them to seize emerging career opportunities by developing communication, interpersonal, and networking skills alongside academic qualifications. He also expressed concern that many tourism and hospitality graduates pursue careers outside the sector despite growing demand for skilled professionals.
Discipline, human touch
Guest Speaker T. Kevin McIntyre stressed that discipline, respect, and continuous learning are essential for a successful career in hospitality. He said the industry offers diverse opportunities across hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and catering, but young professionals must be willing to learn and work their way toward managerial positions.
He also urged students to preserve the human touch despite rapid technological change and to promote Bangladesh's tourism potential, adding that future industry leaders should know their country's attractions well enough to present them confidently to visitors, particularly foreign tourists.
Global career opportunities
Guest Speaker Saif Ul Alam Tanzu said a degree in tourism and hospitality management can open career opportunities worldwide, not just in Bangladesh. He noted that technological advances, AI, and personalized services are transforming the industry, while human skills such as empathy and listening remain essential.
Drawing on his own career, Tanzu urged students to connect academic knowledge with practical experience, start wherever opportunities arise, and remain ambitious and patient. He also stressed the importance of embracing change, building professional networks, and developing the skills needed to meet the industry's demand for qualified professionals.
Q&A session, closing remarks
The seminar then moved into an engaging question-and-answer session, where students put a range of queries directly to the industry professionals, receiving candid, practical insights on career prospects, required skills, and navigating the early stages of the sector.
The university's Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. M Mahmudur Rahman delivered the closing remarks, emphasizing the importance of practical learning and encouraging students to explore innovative opportunities in tourism and hospitality.
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), established in 1991 by Professor Dr. M Alimullah Miyan, is the first non-government university in Bangladesh. It operates as a nonprofit institution focused on human resource development through higher education, training, and research.
IUBAT's College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM) offers the Bachelor of Arts in Tourism and Hospitality Management (BATHM), which the university began awarding in 2001 as the first such degree in Bangladesh. The program combines theoretical education with practical training to develop globally competitive tourism and hospitality professionals.
