Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management

at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Canada

Train to become an aircraft maintenance technician and be responsible for the service and repair of all types of airplanes and helicopters — with the eventual opportunity to obtain your Aircraft Maintenance Engineer license.

The Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Technology program offers the student the knowledge and skills required to enter a career as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician. Once employed in the aviation industry, students may work toward the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer “M” (AME) license. An Aircraft Maintenance Technician/Engineer is responsible for the servicing and repair of aircraft and aircraft components.

The program covers all the aspects of aircraft maintenance including general aviation, corporate, charter, transport category aircraft, and helicopters. This is a two-year diploma program and all classes are scheduled at the Art Smith Aero Centre for Training and Technology, located at the Calgary International Airport.

Some of the courses in this program are web-based and will require the students to access information from the Internet. These courses are delivered in one of the two computer labs available at the Art Smith Aero Centre. Students are not required to purchase a laptop for this program.

Get world-class, hands-on training in petroleum engineering technology. Study all areas of the industry — from exploration and drilling to field operations and economic analysis — and start a successful career in oil and gas production.

In the Petroleum Engineering Technology program, you’ll be trained in all areas of the upstream petroleum industry, including exploration, field operations, drilling, economic analysis and reserves determination.

Train to be an on-air radio personality, video content producer or journalist through this program that spans multiple media platforms. Learn through courses in writing and reporting, video and audio production, scriptwriting and more.

The Radio, Television and Broadcast News (RTBN) program is divided into three options: Radio, Television or Broadcast News. Students choose the option that best fits their individual skills and interests, in preparation for a challenging, creative and exciting career in the media.

The RTBN program involves two years of full-time study. Each of the program’s two years is divided into two semesters. There is a single intake each year, with classes commencing in September and finishing in late April. A four-week industry practicum is available in the fourth semester.

Radio Major
Radio students gain valuable industry experience by operating SAIT’s campus radio station (accessible worldwide at radio.sait.ca). Students progress from mastering audio basics to advanced digital multi-track production, perform duties in the sales and promotions departments, and rotate through station positions including on-air personality, creative director, and production manager. Students also receive training in music directing, traffic management, and news and sports delivery, to round out this exciting and worthwhile career path.

Television Major
Television students learn the fundamentals of writing, directing, producing, and editing through live production and assembling pre-recorded video and audio elements. A strong emphasis is placed on hands-on learning and innovation in both single and multi-camera environments. Students work in teams to produce information and news programs, live event programming (such as sports), variety programs, documentaries, commercials, and public service announcements. Students also become familiar with the technical aspects of television media by working with broadcast-quality equipment such as High Definition cameras, switchers, digital audio consoles, graphics work stations, servers and computer-based editing systems.

Broadcast News Major
Broadcast News (BN) students learn how to research and objectively present a story. They receive extensive, hands-on training. The program provides realistic experiences behind and in front of the camera and microphone. Students are trained to work effectively in both the radio and television environment. BN students learn the importance of meeting deadlines while maintaining respect for journalistic integrity. Students take on many roles in our newsroom, including reporter, producer, line-up editor, news and sports anchor, and weather reporter.

Develop strong techinical, analytical and problem solving essential for a career in mechanical engineering. Find your fit by choosing from one of three majors - design and development, design and automation or design and analysis.

The Mechanical Engineering Technology program is a practical, hands-on, full-time, two-year diploma program. During the common first year, you will be exposed to a variety of topics including foundational math and physics, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and additional specialized courses to prepare you to enter into one of three specialized majors.

Upon successful completion of the common first year, the selection of your major will occur. Although SAIT will attempt to help students complete the program major of their choice, grade point for specific courses will be used in the selection criteria for each major, in case of a seat shortage for specific majors.

The specific areas of study for the three majors will be:

• Design and Analysis 
  • Mechanical system design
  • Vibration Analysis
  • Thermodynamics
  • Fluid Mechanics
• Design and Development 
  • Model Making
  • Prototyping
  • Ergonomics
• Design and Automation
  • Automation Systems Design
  • Control Systems (PLC)
  • Industrial robotics

For all three available majors, a focus will be placed on professionalism, creativity, teamwork, effective communication and collaboration. Each student will also participate in a major capstone project that will address a real-world industry challenge.

Train for a career as a restaurant or hotel manager, special events coordinator or entrepreneur through courses in business management, food and beverage, human resources and marketing. Hospitality Management provides a unique educational experience with students learning and working in SAIT’s popular on-campus restaurant.

The Hospitality Management program at SAIT is known worldwide for its innovative curriculum and real-world education. At SAIT, we prepare our students for rewarding and in-demand careers in the global hospitality industry through expert instruction, hands-on learning anda state-of-the-art facilities. Our alumni are working in top hospitality organizations in Calgary, Canada and around the globe.

During this full-time two-year diploma program, you will obtain skills in lodging, food and beverage and a host of other hospitality sectors. Your training will cover hotel and restaurant operations, wine and beverage appreciation, special events, marketing, human resources, accounting and much more.

Our blended learning environment includes classroom instruction, laptop delivery and a live working environment - all delivered through a personalized approach. You will learn what it’s like to work as a member of a hospitality team by participating in group projects, serving in the renowned Highwood restaurant and executing special events on campus.

You will also be trained on the latest industry software including:

• Opera Property Management System
• MICROS point of sale system
• OpenTable restaurant management software.

As part of our close relationship with the hospitality sector, we are privileged to have some of the best and brightest leaders from the community serve on our advisory board. They help by providing insight into industry trends and informing the development of an up-to-date and practical curriculum.

Special events

• As a student, you will also have the opportunity to put your knowledge into action as part of a team planning and hosting special events such as:
  • HOSPO: the largest one-day tourism conference in Western Canada featuring 50 guest speakers and a career fair with over 50 industry booths
  • Scholarship lunch and industry gala in The Highwood
  • SAIT President’s gala dinner for 400 VIP delegates.

Professional paid internship and study tours

• Between your first and second year of study, you will be able to apply your skills in a professional paid internship. In addition to gaining experience in a real-world environment, internships provide valuable connections and opportunities to network with future employers.
• As a student, you can also take advantage of exciting international study tours. Previous tour locations have included Scotland, Italy, Australia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Balance creativity and science in this comprehensive program covering all aspects of baking and pastry arts — from the fundamentals of bread and cakes to advanced skills in sugar artistry. 

Take exceptional instructors with backgrounds in traditional and contemporary baking and pastry arts from around the world, add state-of-the-art training facilities and a progressive curriculum, and you get the top Baking and Pastry Arts program in Canada.

If you've baked all of your life, have an artistic flair and are interested in creating magic with elegant dessert showpieces, we can help take your passion to the next level. A career in baking and pastry arts will have you balancing exact measurements and chemistry on one hand while using your imagination and creativity to develop exciting new recipes on the other.

In an industry experiencing high demand, graduates from SAIT’s Baking and Pastry Arts program are well prepared for a diverse range of career options after graduation. In this technical discipline, the craft of pastry is teamed with the art of baking, sugar artistry and fine artisanal chocolate production.

During this full-time two-year diploma program, you will be trained in baking fundamentals and advanced baking practices. The program covers yeast goods, artisan bread, pastries, sugar artistry, chocolate, special occasion and wedding cakes, flans, tortes and much more. You will also learn important management skills on food regulations, customer service, costing, pricing, merchandising and starting your own business.

Hands-on, production environment

• Our main goal is to prepare you for the real world in a hands-on, production-style environment.
• Over your two-year education, you will receive about 1,400 practical training hours in the bakery labs. You’ll learn step-by-step tactics and come away knowing best practices, as well as practical strategies to implement in the real world.
• You will also have the chance to feature your talents by baking bread and pastry products to sell in our gourmet retail food outlets including the renowned Highwood restaurant, the Market Place and the downtown Culinary Campus.

Learn from top instructors from around the world

• In addition to learning the science of baking, our instructors will also inspire your creativity.
• The highly distinguished instructors in the Baking and Pastry Arts program are truly second to none. Their diverse backgrounds and specialties range from executive pastry chefs from top hotels in New York, Hawaii and Bermuda, to local, entrepreneurial bakers.

Professional paid internship and study tours

• Between your first and second year of study, you will get to apply your skills in a professional paid internship. In addition to gaining experience in a real-world environment, internships provide valuable connections and opportunities to network with future employers.
• As a student, you can also take advantage of exciting international study tours. Previous tour locations have included France, Australia, Thailand, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

Developed with input from industry experts, the Hospitality and Tourism Management program will give you practical hands-on education, ensuring you have the real-world knowledge and skills to achieve success in the workforce.

During this program, you will develop a strong understanding of the hospitality and tourism industries. You will gain knowledge in guest experiences delivery, sales and marketing, service and applied leadership, all complemented by a strong financial management foundation. You will expand your knowledge by choosing a specialization in travel and tourism, entrepreneurship and innovation, hotel and accommodation management, restaurant and service operations, event management, beverage management and more.

Develop qualities that are in high demand for all hospitality and tourism jobs such as communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. The industry is fast-paced and requires you to be adaptable, enthusiastic and resilient. If you enjoy keeping busy and working within a team to achieve common goals, then this career is perfect for you.

The program allows you to choose an area of specialization in:

• Hotel and Accommodations
• Restaurant and Service Operations
• Beverage Management
• Travel and Tourism
• Event Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Event Management - Specialization
This specialization exposes you to all aspects of the event and meeting planning industry, from conventions to live events and festivals. You will gain applied knowledge in contract and stakeholder negotiations, event strategy planning and execution as you bring several events to life on campus and with industry partners, from small- scale VIP events to large events.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur at heart or you want to increase your business acumen, the Culinary Entrepreneurship post-diploma will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to turn an idea into reality. An intensive year-long certificate program, you’ll learn first-hand all about the world of entrepreneurialism as you manage an actual, real-life hospitality enterprise.

The experiential learning from a live classroom environment will provide you with the skillset required to operate a business, provide creative solutions and drive product development - skillsets that are increasingly sought after in a globalized, competitive environment.

While managing a business, your learning will be complimented with online courses and professional mentorship from industry experts. Your studies will cover everything from business operations, facilities, and business regulations to finance, human resource management, sales and marketing.

Upon completion of this post-diploma certificate, you will be able to make informed decisions about your tolerance to risk, your ability to manage and your ability to lead. Further, you will be able to determine if you are suited to entrepreneurship, whether or not you are ready to become an entrepreneur, or if you should use your entrepreneurial mindset to enhance your position within an organization.

World-Class Experiential Learning Environment
An integral part of your learning experience will be SAIT’s new state-of-the-art facility designed to foster culinary excellence, creative exchange and innovation. An incubator for entrepreneurs, this space will provide you with a flexible platform to develop and market your products, engage with paying customers in real time and fully immerse yourself in the day-to-day operations of entrepreneurialism.

Prepare for a career as a chemical or process engineering technologist, environmental technician or process designer with training in all aspects of chemical engineering technology, from environmental engineering to industry safety.

Your formula for success starts here. In the Chemical Engineering Technology program, you’ll study engineering design calculations, chemical process unit operations, process simulation and control, safety and environmental engineering. 

In this program, you’ll gain an in-depth knowledge of unit operation, process control and equipment design while you learn to operate, troubleshoot, maintain, and design safe processing units and plants. In addition, our industry-trained instructors will teach you design calculations, process simulation and control, industry safety and environmental engineering. You will also learn to work with engineering software that will give you an edge to jump-start your career.

Train for a career repairing, maintaining and overhauling transport vehicles and heavy equipment. A combination of action-based learning in a shop environment and theory courses will prepare you for a career in a number of industries and let you continue your path as a heavy equipment technician apprentice.

This 30-week program has been designed by industry representatives to meet the specific needs of today’s large and diverse heavy equipment industry. After completing the program, you will be a highly trained entry-level tradesperson ready to enter the workforce as a Heavy Equipment Technician apprentice.

As a graduate of the program, you may be credited with up to 600 hours' worth of work experience towards your apprenticeship, as well as the opportunity to write your first and second-period apprenticeship exams.