BHM Internship – What Do I Need To Know?

1. What is an internship?

It is a management integrated specialty course to introduce the students to direct industry work experience via the industrial training program (6 months paid internship)

2. How much do I get paid?

The Minimum wage in BC is $15.65/hr.

3. Can I work in any industry or place of my choice?

No, you cannot work in any place of your choice. The industry you are working in has to be from the hospitality industry and ensure that they train you in the guidelines provided by Acsenda. You need to get prior approval from the Director, and faculty of BHM.

4. Why should I do an internship?

It is a mandatory course for all BHM students in order to complete their BHM degree. It provides the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained in college in a professional setting.

5. Is there any time frame for my internship?

The Bachelor of Hospitality Management (BHM) Program offers quarterly basis internship programs such as January, April, June, and September each year. The required length of the BHM program internship is for 6 months, a minimum of 540 (+/-) hours 18 (+/-) weeks to a maximum of 720 (+/-) hours 24 (+/-) weeks worked, not including holidays. But students should not collect more than 800 hours.

Preparation Time	Starting Time	Finishing Time
October	January	June
January	April	September
April	June	December
June	October	March

6. Do I need to have permission to work full-time for 6 months as part of the completion of the Bachelor of Hospitality Management (BHM) Program?

Yes, according to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), all internship students must submit their co-op permit to the Acsenda School of Management Registrar Office before enrolling in the internship course (BHMT440 or BHMT441).

You will receive your co-op permit along with your study permit in case you do not have a co-op permit you can apply from Vancouver, Canada while you are studying with the Bachelor of Hospitality Management (BHM) Program. The registrar’s office and the BHM faculty will supply all necessary documents to apply for a co-op permit in advance.

7. Is my part-time job considered an internship or part of an internship?

No, your part-time job is not considered a part of the internship.

8. What qualified me for an internship?

Any student applying for an internship should successfully complete the following courses:

90 credits in BHM program including BHMT 202a – Food and Beverage -1, BHMT 203 – Accommodation Management, BHMT 204 – Cost Control, BHMT 302-Facility & Security Management, BHMT 304-Innkeepers Law.

9. What documentation should I prepare for my internship’s first day?

Complete all necessary forms needed for “new” employee
Determine training needed
Orientate intern with the department
Information about organization
Structure
Introductions to staff
Inform intern of staff meetings, work-related events,
Give intern the tools to do the job: desk, computer, chair,
Tour of department, division, unit
Where do they go for help if there is a problem?
Calling in sick,
Supervision
Determine how often you will meet with the intern (recommend bi-weekly)
- Must be regular
- Must be reciprocal
Encourage good work habits from the intern (make clear expectations)
Continue to identify training needs
Revisit the learning agreement as needed

10. In case of an emergency, who should I contact?

The contact person in an emergency would be the Dr. Gomes Director of BHM Faculty or any faculty member assigned by him.

11. Can I leave my internship if I do not like it?

No, you are not allowed to leave your internship without our prior approval from the BHM faculty of Acsenda.

12. What if I get laid off from my work?

In a situation of you being laid off due to unforeseen circumstances and no mistake of yours, Acsenda would find an alternative method to assess you.

13. Can I choose not to go for my internship?

No, an Internship is part of your curriculum, and you are mandated to complete this course. However, you could take an exemption if you are eligible for PLAR Dr. Gomes might consider exemptions on certain circumstances if appealed well in advance.

14. What if I fall sick for a day during the internship?

If you fall sick, you are to follow the organization (the organization you work for) procedures and inform your immediate supervisor or manager.

15. How do I face Workplace harassment?

It is illegal in Canada to demonstrate any sort of workplace harassment; in such a scenario you are to inform your Director of ASM at the earliest.

16. Can I continue working for the same organization even after my internship is over?

Your internship is assigned for 6 months and if you want to continue to work full-time you have to follow the Canadian Immigration rules and regulations for your status in Canada. The Acsenda School of Management is not responsible to allow any students to work full-time after 6 months. However, you are to follow the immigration requirements and follow the rules and regulations of the Host Country.

17. How am I assessed during my internship?

The method of assessments will be determined by the BHM Faculty as follows.

Six (6) case studies are related to 6 learning outcomes and all interns must complete each month’s case study in a classroom setting and will upload them on Turnitin
Site supervision will be conducted by the BHM faculty member once within 6 months
Final skills assessment will be completed by the Host Organization (the organization you work for) by the line supervisor/manager end of your internship.
Final workbook will be completed by students at the end of 6 months.

18. What should I acquire from my organization by the end of the internship?

Students must remind their employers to complete the documents needed to validate the internship within the required timeframe and to draw up a certificate showing the start and end dates of the internship and the position held. This certificate must be handed into the Internships and Careers Office. Employers are encouraged to provide a letter of recommendation.

You should be able to present a certificate of appreciation/letter of recommendation
Complete college evaluation to assess your progress and skill development.

19. What are the evaluation criteria?

Mid/Final internship evaluations
Reviewed between student/supervisor
Two-sided feedback
Student evaluation
Supervisor evaluation
Will be used to collect data on internship companies & identify areas for improvement, etc.
Evaluation is required if a student receiving academic credit
Will be used for student portfolios
Show evaluations during a job interview

20. Absences during the internship?

Before the internship begins, students must inform the Internship Co-Ordinator or Director of any physical or mental health problems likely to affect their performance.
No leave of absence will be granted, with the exception of emergency leave which may be authorized at the discretion of the Acsenda School of Management.
Students who are absent for reasons of illness or accident must provide the Acsenda School of Management with a copy of the medical certificate or of any other document attesting to the reason.
for their absence. In the case of repeated absences or absences lasting for more than three days, the employer will notify the Acsenda School of Management.
The internship dates and durations must be strictly adhered to for the purposes of validating the internship and/or awarding the corresponding credits. Approved absences of more than ten working days (for illness, family problems or acts of God) must be compensated for by an equivalent number of days’ work in the host firm. The Acsenda School of Management will confirm with the employer that this has been done; if not, the Acsenda School of Management reserves the right to invalidate the internship and to withhold the corresponding credits.

21. Can I change my employer in between my internship?

No, if the student encounters problems during the internship, then he or she must immediately notify the Internship Coordinator. Should the student drop out of the internship or change employers without consulting the Internship Coordinator, Acsenda School of Management reserves the right to invalidate the internship and withhold the corresponding credits.

22. What if I am not able to comply and finish my internship?

Acsenda School of Management investigates every violation of the Directive on Internships. The disciplinary measures taken may depend on the gravity of the situation, and require the student to go before a disciplinary committee. This committee may, after hearing both parties, decide to implement disciplinary measures that may include expulsion from the Acsenda School of Management.

23. Can I do an internship in my home country?

The internship must be completed in British Columbia in Canada.

24. What are the working hours during my internship?

The actual working time must be equal to full-time work as defined by the labour laws in the country in which the internship takes place.
Holiday periods are not included in the mandatory duration of internships.
Remuneration of the internship is at the employer’s discretion but must be in accordance with the legislation of the country in question.
The Acsenda School of Management accepts no responsibility in relation to remuneration for the internship.

25. How can I get an exemption from an internship?

Exemptions from carrying out an internship are agreed upon only in the case of official recognition by the Acsenda School of Management of previous training or prior professional experience (PLAR).
No internship exemption will be agreed upon by the Acsenda School of Management unless they adhere to the Prior Learning Assessment Criteria (PLAR) or any health conditions due to COVID-19.

PLAR FAQ

What is PLAR?

Prior Learning Assessment Recognition means Acsenda recognizes your previous experience in the industry equivalent to the internship you would have to undergo as part of your course. However, the experience you possess should be as per the norms defined by Acsenda.

How do I know if I am eligible for PLAR?

The internship credit transfer is eligible for those students who are currently working or worked in BC as a minimum of supervisory role in the hospitality sectors including hotels, restaurants, events management, etc. Also, a collection of total hours should be (20 hours per week as an international student so, 80 hours per month up to 12 months and total hours of 960 hours).

How do I know if I am eligible for PLAR?

- Appeal MYASM with the letter of current employment.
- A copy of the CO-OP permit (if you don’t have one, please consult with Dr. Thomas Gomes).
- Proof of hours (the letter of employment that shows you did a minimum of 960 hours (a minimum of 80 hours per month over the last 12 months) as a minimum of supervisory roles within British Columbia / Canada). The letter should state your job description (could be submitted separately) which should involve managerial/supervisory tasks.
- Complete the employer assessment form. Your employer needs to fill it out, sign it, and submit it with other documents.
Complete the student’s reflection form and submit it with other documents.
Complete the student’s final workbook and submit it with other documents.
Food Safe 1 Certificate.
WSET 1 certificate (if you have any).
Serving It Right certificate.
Any other professional certificates such as employee of the month, conference attendance, training certificates, etc.
Applicants are welcome to submit additional evidence to sustain their application.
As per the PLAR policy (9006), you need to go through a blended assessment process, where the applicant will have a challenge assessment + Portfolio-Assisted Assessment.
The applicant needs to pay a $500 application fee to the registrar and additional fees if required. If your application is approved, you will not be required to pay the fees for the course.
Residency requirements – 50% of their course completion.

How do I get accepted for PLAR?

- A PLAR Viva Voce session and 30–40-minute individual interview.
- Paperwork must be submitted before viva voce in softcopies to the Registrar and The Director of BHM faculty, Dr. Thomas Gomes (thomas.gomes@acsenda.com).
- The application will be assessed based on the documents/evidence submitted in addition to formal assessment (viva-voce).