VMSIIHE Hospitality Career Expo 2019 to bridge the gap between industry recruiters and hospitality institutes

The hospitality and travel industry is one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors, with bookings hitting close to $1.6 trillion according to the ‘2018 Travel and Hospitality Industry Outlook’ released by Deloitte, the US based audit and consulting firm. The hospitality industry accounts for more than one-tenth of global GDP and is going to be the single largest employer globally. In an ever changing industry which has new hospitality sectors springing up annually, the need for skilled professionals has never been higher.

V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE) situated at Manora-Raia,Goa has stepped in to bridge the gap with the VMSIIHE Hospitality Career Expo 2019, a one-of-a-kind career expo open to students from various hospitality & culinary institutes from Pan India graduating this academic year 2019-20.

Speaking about the event, Prof. Irfan Mirza, Director/Principal of VMSIIHE said, “VMSIIHE Hospitality Career Expo 2019 is the ideal platform for representatives of the hospitality industries to meet, interact and engage with the country’s budding talent from within hospitality institutes. The event will also encourage exchange of knowledge and ideas. Goa is one of the world’s fastest growing markets and we aim to encourage this growth”

The 3-day event, which is scheduled to be held between 11^th and 13^th October 2019 will host hospitality institutes and industry stakeholders who can interact and network on a common platform.

The event will have exhibition spaces for industry players ranging from starred and boutique hotels to fine dining restaurants and fast food chains. Students from hospitality institutes who will be graduating this academic year will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and seek placement opportunities. The event creates a common ground for students and top-class industry professionals across India to interact with graduating students.

The event will also host perfectly laid out networking sessions each evening where stakeholders can interact with each other. The local cuisine and culture of Goa will be showcased at the event.

Spread over 3 days, the first day will witness starred hotels and chain of hotels whereas day 2 will welcome boutique and independent hotels. The last day will have fast food chains and fine dining restaurants engaging with hospitality students.

One can visit www.vmsiihe.edu.in for more details.

Healthway Hospitals conducts first Kidney Transplant in Goa private sector

~ The kidney transplant surgery done at Healthway Hospitals is the first of its kind to be done at a Private Hospital in this region. The patient is recovering well and will be discharged soon ~

~Healthway Hospitals has received approval for kidney transplant after complying with the Transplant of Human Organ Act undergoing required formalities for approval by the government appointed appropriate authority. All patients wanting to undergo kidney transplant also need to be approved by a state appointed authorization committee ~

 

A 49-year-old patient diagnosed with kidney failure got a fresh lease of life after undergoing a successful kidney transplant at Healthway Hospital in Old Goa. The patient was donated a kidney by the spouse in compliance with the Transplant of Human Organs Act, India.

Healthway Hospital, Old Goa’s super speciality unit has emerged to become the regions pioneer tertiary level care centre where advanced surgical cases are carried out routinely. The kidney transplant surgery done at Healthway Hospitals is the first of its kind to be done at a Private Hospital in this region. The patient is recovering well and will be discharged soon.

A team headed by Healthway Hospitals’ Chief Nephrologist Dr. Shital Lengade was instrumental in conducting the transplant. Dr. Shital Lengade has been treating Nephrology related cases since 2005 and has acquired transplant nephrologist training, including swap kidney transplant & blood group incompatible kidney transplant training from internationally reputed institutes.

Dr. Virendra Gaonkar, Chairman of Healthway Hospitals stated “We have built a super specialized infrastructure to enable doctors to undertake organ transplant. Our transplant complex consists of modular operation theatres backed by dedicated transplant ICU’s with in-situ dialysis facility.

Healthway Hospitals has received approval for kidney transplant after complying with the Transplant of Human Organ Act undergoing required formalities for approval by the government appointed appropriate authority. All patients wanting to undergo kidney transplant also need to be approved by a state appointed authorization committee.

Dr. Virendra Gaonkar added “The key success factor for organ transplant is the team. Healthway Hospitals has a dedicated in house team of  uro-surgeons, transplant anaesthetists, intensivists, nephrologists and interventional radiologists, which helped us become the first private hospital to perform a kidney transplant in the state of Goa. Our goal is to perform other transplants of other organs like liver etc after obtaining the due permissions for the same, we would also like to assist the Government of Goa to establish the network required for organ transplant”

FC Goa to start 2019/20 pre-season on September 12

FC Goa will start their pre-season on September 12. This is the first time since the inaugural season that the Gaurs will get into gear on home turf.

After winning the Super Cup last season and coming within minutes of landing their first-ever ISL title, Sergio Lobera’s men will look to launch another successful campaign. The two-time ISL finalists have continued with a majority of the squad that finished the last campaign with six members of the foreign contingent retained.

Ferran Corominas, after winning his second straight ISL Golden Boot Trophy, will aim to finish as the top scorer in the league for the third consecutive time. He will be joined by compatriots Edu Bedia and Carlos Peña. Hugo Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh and central defender Mourtada Fall will also retain for another year.

The Gaurs’ highest-appearance maker Mandar Rao Dessai will be one of the Goans in the squad apart from Brandon Fernandes, Lenny Rodrigues, Seriton Fernandes and others. Last season’s young break-out stars Mohammad Nawaz, Princeton Rebello, Saviour Gama and Liston Colaco will once again be part of the first team.

Shubham Dhas has been promoted from the Developmental team while Aibanbha Dohling, Seiminlen Doungel and Amey Ranawade are new additions to the squad.

Director of Football Ravi Puskur stressed on the need for continuity in the squad. He said, “We have opted for consistency in our squad selection after reaching the ISL final last time around. We hope that the same core group of players will perform well for us this season and expect that our new signings will bolster our push for a title win.”

The FC Goa squad for the pre-season is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Mohammad Nawaz, Shubham Dhas, Naveen Kumar

Defenders: Mourtada Fall, Seriton Fernandes, Carlos Peña, Aibanbha Dohling, Chinglensana Singh, Mandar Rao Dessai, Amey Ranawade, Saviour Gama

Midfielders: Hugo Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh, Princeton Rebello, Lenny Rodrigues, Edu Bedia, Brandon Fernandes, Jackichand Singh

Forwards: Ferran Corominas, Seimenlen Doungel, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco

Incubig, incubated at GIM’s Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) selected for global startup accelerator programme supported by the Government of South Korea

Incubig, a promising Indian start-up, incubated at Goa Institute of Management’s (GIM) Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) is making its way to Seoul for a global startup accelerator programme supported by the Government of South Korea.

Incubig is one, among four Indian startups who have been selected for the K-Startup Grand Challenge which is held every year in Seoul. At the end of the acceleration programme, the Korean government will host a Demo Day in December 2019 to felicitate the top startups. The 1st prize will receive $100,000, 2nd prize $40,000, 3rd prize $20,000 and 4th prize $6,000. The other three startups are MicroX Labs, Ekport.com and Xenon Automotive.

Importantly, the startups get access to a grant of up to $100,000, free office space, one-on-one mentoring, expert support, state-of-the-art R&D labs and the opportunity to work in the Global Startup campus.

Incubig founded by Ankit Lehra and Mohammed Zaffer in 2017 aims to solve the biggest threat to innovation –  patent infringement. The start-up has been incubated and supported through their journey by the team at the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at Goa Institute of Management.

Ankit Lehra, Founder, Incubig said, “We started Incubig with a mission to accelerate innovation on a global scale. Patent and research analytics play a key role in guiding and accelerating innovation. We are just making sure that this highly valuable analytics is accessible to individuals and organizations for making informed research and business decisions, at the right time. South Korea is one of the largest sources of patents applications. It feels really great to be recognized by a country, which is highly research-oriented. The next few weeks are focused on collaborations with leading corporations and universities, along with mentorship programs on specific areas of business.”

Said Apoorv Sharma, CEO, AIC-GIM, “Incubig founded by the extremely innovative and talented duo Ankit Lehra and Mohammed Zaffer are involved in creating customised IP profiles of individual innovators and startups to provide 360-degree patent analytics relevant to their product and technology. Their unique analysis algorithms, patent-pending AI engine and result enhancement mechanisms enable them to deliver results of the highest quality, in a short time and at an affordable cost.”

Added Prof. Ajit Parulekar, Director, GIM, “We are delighted that Incubig, one of the many startups being nurtured at GIM’s AIC have been selected to be among the four best Indian startups shortlisted to showcase their innovative concept in Korea. The Incubation Center at GIM will continue to serve as an active knowledge and resource catalyst for the development of promising entrepreneurs and will aid in accelerating the growth of early stage organizations from ideation to marketplace success.”

Goa Institute of Management (GIM) one of the premier B-Schools in India, was selected by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, for setting up an Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) scheme.  The AIC at GIM has created world class incubation facilities at its campus in Goa.

NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission including Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU) is one of the flagship programs of the Government of India to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. AIC-GIM provides pre-incubation facilities, common infrastructure and services such as technology development assistance, networking and mentoring, funding access, training and development, business support services (entrepreneurship development, marketing, finance and accounting, research, legal, regulatory, etc.) to innovators and startup entrepreneurs for developing solutions.

Insightful and Innovative Solutions on Waste and Water Management Emerge at GIM event

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Goa Institute of Management (GIM) recently concluded their one-of-a-kind competition, a Sustainability Hackathon on Water Conservation and Waste Management. The event brought out new concepts and ideas generated by the students which could be implemented within the 50-acre GIM campus itself. The ideas which were proposed by the students for water conservation and waste management at the campus were insightful, cost-effective and creative.

The first prize was bagged by Radhika Kulkarni, Vedanshi Tulshyan, Rashi Sharma, Nirmalkumar Rathi and Vishalkumar Bankar. The team proposed an idea to install recharge wells on the campus which would effectively utilize water resources and replenish the aquifers at the campus. This would benefit not only the campus but the surrounding areas as well.

The second and third prize was awarded to teams which focused on reduction and management of waste in the campus through various solutions. The second placed team came up with a project dealing with paper waste and sanitary waste disposal. They proposed reduce usage of paper for academic purposes through recycling or installing an online portal for academic work. The team also suggested an awareness campaign for proper disposal of sanitary napkins along with ensuring adequate disposal facilities in the hostels.

The third placed student team came up with a project that was centered around the idea of installing a biogas plant at the back of the cafeteria inside the college premises, in order to make productive use of the wet waste i.e. food waste produced in the cafeteria on a regular basis. The initiative would result in a reduced consumption of LPG by 30% in college.

Dr. Ajit Parulekar, Director GIM explained that GIM was focused on developing a sustainable campus. “The most suitable ideas emerging from the hackathon are expected to be implemented by GIM in the coming year. These initiatives are also planned to be further expanded beyond the campus and evaluated for adoption by the surrounding communities.”

The keynote speaker for the event Perses Billimoria, a well-known independent environmental services professional and also the founder and CEO of Earthsoul India Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, in his address, spoke about the alarming degree of climate change which was becoming evident every year with the high variations in the weather patterns. He felt that earlier generations had failed to protect and conserve the natural resources. He hoped that the present day youth would be the catalyst of change and target the reversal of the harmful effects which society has had on the environment.

Kavita Patil from The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) and Mr. Rohan Ghadi from Goa Waste Management Corporation held a workshop on the main themes of the event. They also provided expertise and guidance to the participating teams through personal interactions.

The final presentations by the teams were judged by a panel consisting of Engr. S. Nadkarni, Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Goa, Mr Parag Rangnekar, Program Manager, Goa Mineral Foundation and Prof Neeraj Amarnani, Academic Dean at GIM. An innovative method for an audience poll was also held, using the mobile phone with an installed app as the tool.

FC Goa Appoints Ravi Puskur as Director of Football

FC Goa is pleased to announce the appointment of Ravi Puskur to the role of Director of Football (DoF) at the club. As Head of Technical Operations at FC Goa, Puskur had played a pivotal role in spearheading the efforts which saw the Gaurs finish as ISL runners-up last season.

With Puskur at the helm of technical operations, the club also lifted the Super Cup trophy and won the Goa Pro League in the 2018-’19 season. In the role since the start of season 4, Puskur played a key role in the recruitment of Sergio Lobera and the signings and extensions of multiple FC Goa players, including Ferran Corominas, Edu Bedia, Hugo Boumous and Brandon Fernandes.

Along with the responsibility of running the first team for the last two seasons, he also managed the back-end operations for the youth development program at the club. Puskur had also previously served as the Communications and PR Head in season 3 and is into his fifth season with FC Goa.

Speaking on his new role, Puskur said, “I’m pleased to have been offered the opportunity to take on this role. It’s a hugely exciting time at the club, as we go about building on the consistent success the club has had since its inception. We’ve laid a platform to build a strong footballing ecosystem and steadily we are beginning to see the results of it. The club’s vision has always been to produce top quality players and deliver sustained success and that is what I will continue to strive for. We believe football should be played in a certain way and I hope that over the years, the players and coaches that come through the system are a reflection of that.

I’ve got a great set of people who’ve worked alongside me tirelessly to ensure we run a very professional setup and a big chunk of the credit must go to them too. I hope to count on the continued confidence of all those within the club as we go about trying to establish FC Goa as a premier footballing destination,” Puskur added.

Akshay Tandon, co-owner and President of FC Goa, also commented, “From a communications intern in season 2 to Director of Football in the sixth season, his rise at FC Goa has been meteoric. We have great confidence in him and thus we put an even greater responsibility on him this coming season. His contribution behind the scenes has been immense with him having a positive input from managing the team to recruitment both at the senior and youth levels, the style of football we play.

His ability of speaking six languages naturally complements his ability to manage situations which could have otherwise become cumbersome for the club. He is probably the youngest in the country to be in this position. We are hopeful by season 10, he will play a major role in developing the future stars of Indian football,” Tandon added.

AWADHI FOOD FESTIVAL AT CHULHA, GRAND HYATT GOA

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Awadhi cuisine, originating from Uttar Pradesh is known for its rich spices, flavours and ittr. Just as fascinating as the history of Awadh, the cuisine has a class of its own. Evoking the spirit of the Nawabs, Grand Hyatt Goa gives you a chance to experience this rich cuisine at its very own Indian home style restaurant, Chulha.

The menu has been carefully crafted and include the most cherished Awadhi melt in the mouth recipes such as Tundey miyan ki Galawat, Methi mahi ke parchey, Paneer qaliyan and Gosht Awadhi korma coupled with a variety of breads that include Khasta roti, all prepared by our passionate chefs and served to you by our warm staff. Indulge your sweet senses with Seviyan ka muzaffar- vermicelli tossed in asli ghee and finished with cloves, cardamom and saffron.

Experience Awadhi cuisine at Chulha until 21 August 2019.

Chulha @ Grand Hyatt, Goa

Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM

For more details, call +91 832 711 1510

INDIA WINS BRONZE MEDAL – GOA’s REBECCA, SOPHIE & TEJAS CREATE ULTIMATE HISTORY

This July, the Indian National Team had a first time ever podium finish and brought home the bronze medal at the AOUGC – Asia Oceanic Ultimate and Guts Championships, held at Shanghai, China from the 23rd to the 27th of July 2019.

India created Ultimate history defeating host team China 11-10 in the contest for 3rd place. The Indian team put up a stellar performance to  defeat China on Universal Point. In this bronze medal match, REBECCA GODINHO & KRISHNA DAMOR were adjudged the Female and Male MVP’s ( Most Valuable Player).

Team India defeated second seeded stalwarts, Australia in the quarterfinals,  to cause the biggest upset of the tournament.  In the semis, India lost to the Philippines who ended as champions defeating Japan in the finals

Rebecca Godinho,  Sophie Chowgule and Tejas Shevde were our very own Goan representation in this Indian squad of 24 players. The young team who were selected from the many  club teams across India, trained hard in monthly camps and then went on to play with heart and soul against teams from Australia, Korea, China,  Malaysia,  Chinese Taipei and the Philippines.

Ultimate frisbee or Flying Disc is a non contact team sport that originated in New Jersey, USA in 1968 and is very popular in other nations like the USA, Canada, Australia,  Japan, China , and all the European countries,  among others, where the sport is being played for over 30 years. In India this fast growing sport of Ultimate Frisbee is comparatively new – about 8 years old but already has a pool of over 9000 players.

It is a highly athletic and fast paced game which requires strong agility and athleticism,  not discounting stamina and determination to last through matches, each of upto 110 minutes.

The WFDF World Flying Disc Federation  has announced the WUGC 2020 to be held in the Netherlands in July next year. This is the World Cup of Ultimate frisbee and comes once every 4 years.

Now that India has proudly planted itself on the World Ultimate map with this recent win, we wish our young turks on the national squad, all the very best of luck for these championships.

Indian Plumbers Association (IPA – Goa) to promote the use of Aerators for Effective Water Management. Aim to save 25 lakh litres of water this year in Goa

The Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), as part of its campaign has committed to save 130 crores litres of water across the country. Accordingly, the IPA – Goa chapter has committed to promote the use of aerators for effective water management with an aim to save 25 lakh litres of water this year in Goa.

Aerators are small attachments that are fixed inside the water faucet.  This can be installed into faucets of washbasin and kitchen sinks. Use of aerators will offer the same user experience of washing but with far less discharge of water leading to saving large amounts of water from being wasted

As part of its effort to create awareness about the importance of saving water, IPA-Goa has recently started a Student Chapter at Govt. Polytechnic, Panaji and will be starting more chapters in other colleges.  IPA will be setting up a Plumbing Laboratory at Govt. Polytechnic Panaji for the benefit of all the students of Goa and all the professionals linked to the building Industry.

Addressing media persons in Goa about IPAs water management plans for the state, Mr. Ashok Joshi, Chairman, IPA Goa Chapter said, “As part of our plans to save water, we want to educate the general public on the use of aerators which will save wastage of water to the tune of almost 40%. We will make these aerators available to the public at cost price which will be made available at strategic locations across the state so that the public can procure them and install them in their residences. We will also be targeting hospitals, hotels, institutions and schools for aerators to be installed. What is also important is to address solid waste management effectively. Poor management of the collection and disposal of solid waste could lead to pollution of surface and ground water.”

IPA (Indian Plumbing Association) has tested the efficiency of the use of aerators in IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials) lab at Bengaluru.

Mr. Keyur Desai, Secretary, IPA Goa Chapter said, “IPA has installed unique Plumbing Laboratories at Pune and another Plumbing Lab with technical assistance from IPA has been installed at Sri Ramakrishna Advanced Training Institute (SRATI), Coimbatore. IPA will be setting up a Plumbing Laboratory at Govt. Polytechnic Panaji for the benefit of all the students of Goa and all the professionals linked to the building Industry.”

Speaking further on sewage water management, Mr. Ashok Joshi said, “We have conducted seminars and technical conclaves to promote the usage of sewerage treatment plants and the effective usage of treated water for flushing and gardening. Out of 135 litres per capita per day almost 45 litres i.e. 35 % water is used for flushing. Hence indirectly 35 % water consumption is managed. After usage of treated water for flushing, remaining part if used for irrigating the ground, cleaning the roads and pavement areas, there will be further savings of municipal or potable water. Secondly treated water contains more minerals and indirect vitamins for the growth of greenery.  Alternatively the water can be sold to agricultural property owners. This will avoid usage of ground water by the agriculturists”.

IPA will be associating with several other associations including Fire and security Association of India (FSAI), Indian society of Heating and Air conditioning & Refrigeration Engineers to promote their ‘I save water Campaign’

IPA has been involved in saving water since 2013 by launching a Water Efficient Products-India (WEP-I). WEP-I is a recommendation to the industry and Government on the water volumes required for different products- Taps, Showers, Cisterns, Urinals, Washing Machines etc. at par with international standards of other countries which practices water sustainability.

IPA is bridging the gap to create water efficient rating for fixtures in the lines of Bureau of Energy Efficiency star rating which is a measure of energy efficiency of an appliance.  Water savings can be achieved throughout industry by a combination of behavioral change, modifying and/or replacing equipment with tested and certified water saving equipment and reducing overall water consumption.

Virender Singh leading the new generation of Indian goalkeepers at FC Goa

The monsoon in Goa has presented nothing but sombre-looking skies. The downpour has been relentless, leaving the weather as well as the mood dampened.

And then you see them – hopes hovering over their eyes and purpose in their stride. They have dreams to chase. Monsoon rains and the troubles that come with it are nothing but an afterthought.

It’s hard to envision sunny days underneath these cloudy skies, but an hour into their practice, you can envision a bright sunny picture for these young lads.

Enthusiasm is not something that the FC Goa Developmental team lack. All under 23 with their best footballing days arguably ahead of them, this bunch is geared up for whatever life on the pitch throws at them.

The young Gaurs are the first ones out on to the field this season as they look to replicate the successes of last season. And crucial to that would be to put up another solid show at the back as they look to find rhythm on a side of the field where the word ‘rhythm’ is not always associated with.

But for this team, everything starts at the back. Helping them get in sync is Virender Singh. The former Indian goalkeeper, who helped India record a famous win over the UAE in 2001 thanks to his clean sheet, now sees himself in a very different role. Mostly tasked with leading the goalkeepers in the first team, he is now lending his hands to get the custodians up to speed for the Dev Team as they look to conquer the pitches in Bengal for the Durand Cup.

“Things have changed a lot from our days. There is a method to the madness as they say,” says the man who was the goalkeeper coach of the Indian team under Stephen Constantine during his first stint with the Blue Tigers.

“Our style demands much more from a goalkeeper than any other side in India,” states the veteran. “The goalkeeper is an integral part of our philosophy as they act as the first point of our attack – quite literally. We like to play a brand of football that encourages passing and that includes the goalkeeper who have to be not only good with his hands, but also with his feet.”

“It was different in our days, the goalkeepers used to practice amongst themselves. We used to run, stretch and then just do drills that have been going on for generations. Things have changed now.

“There are precise trainings designed at helping one side of the game for the keeper. Playing with the ball – it has become a key ingredient for success.

“You see the biggest clubs in the world. They are ready to pay huge amounts to get a keeper. And not for one who can just protect their goals but also help in building their attack from the back. Players like Neuer, Lloris, Ederson and Alisson have changed the perception of a keeper’s value in modern-day football.”

FC Goa has seen Mohammad Nawaz graduate from the Developmental Team to the First Team last season and this year it is Shubham Dhas who will be practicing with the big boys.

Tasked with protecting the goal for the Developmental team this year is Dylan D’Silva. Among the probables for the U17 World Cup in 2017, the keeper can feel a difference from what he was two years back.

“I think I have improved considerably,” states the teenager. “I would say not only in terms of agility, fitness and technique but also game play. We form the focal point of the start of an attack and for that we have to get better at playing with our feet.”

Amongst the new recruits is Guidle Syiemlieh. Roped in from Royal Wahingdoh, the Shillong native is slowly but steadily getting there.

“Goalkeeping is not something that is really taught with much zest at the grassroots level. Most of the Indian keepers start off due to raw ability and athleticism, so it takes some time for us to get into our groove. The challenge is real. It’s a steep learning curve but I think this is the best decision I have taken (joining FC Goa). There is a culture here of developing the players. Players are getting promoted from within the system and I know I can make it if I put in the effort,” said Syiemlieh.

Dylan drew rave reviews for his brilliant one handed save in added-on time of the Developmental Team’s first game of Durand Cup.

“It’s one facet which is still taken as a luxury in Indian football, but moving forward this should be par,” says Virender Singh. “People will start recognising the fact that they need to utilise all 11 players when moving forward. And we are here to ensure that FC Goa get there first.”

There is a new generation of goalkeepers coming to Indian football – ones who can not only get you the clean sheet but also draw out opponents and play the delectable through balls that cut open their back line.

That future is now. That future is FC Goa.