Ioannis Pantelidis, chair of the Council of Hospitality Management Education (CHME), said he understood the funding pressures universities were currently under, but said such moves were ‘short-sighted’.
“They ignore the economic, social and cultural importance of the hospitality industry,” he said, which was the third largest sector in the UK.
“It employs 3.2m people and offers a wealth of graduate opportunities.
“As such, universities should be showing leadership by supporting and enhancing hospitality education programmes.”
He is urging the catering and hospitality industry to support the CHME’s open letter by adding their names to it before it is formally sent to Oxford Brookes on Thursday (September 5th).
To add your support you can contact Ioannis directly by emailing i.pantelidis@brighton.ac.uk.