Thomas Cook India's Centre of Learning inks a strategic tie up with Singapore's Nanyang Technological University

Chandigarh, November 03,2015: Thomas Cook (India) Limited's education and training vertical, Centre of Learning has launched a Global Immersion Program in a strategic tie-up with Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore)NTU Singapore is the fastest-rising university in the world's Top 15 and is ranked 13thas per QS World University Rankings 2015. NTU is also placed 1st amongst the world's best young universities and ranked 1st in industry income and innovation.



The Thomas Cook Centre of Learning 7 dayGlobal Immersion Program at NTUSingapore offers Indian students a valuable theory cum application model: academics coupled with corporate visits and sightseeing. The curriculum is focussed on key Global Tourism Management topics. Studying at the world ranked Nanyang Technological University offers India's youth vital global exposure and a significant platform to interact with international students and faculty. On completion, students receive a certificate of participation in The Global Immersion Program signed by the Dean of Nanyang Business School.



The Thomas Cook Centre of Learning Global Immersion Program commences its first batch on January 11-17, 2016. The program package includes the study course at NTUSingapore with certification (Mumbai-Singapore returnairfare, accommodation, all meals, visa, insurance and afun element of sightseeing opportunities in Singapore). An exclusive Thomas Cook Tour Manager will accompany the students to ensure their safety and security during the programme.





Ms. Mona Cheriyan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Human Resources, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, "With India becoming one of the world's fastest growing economies, education and training will form a critical element to skilling its young population. The pioneering Global Immersion Program launched by our Thomas Cook Centre of Learning Team, in partnership with the highly reputed Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, is a unique initiative offering India's students valuable global exposure with a perfect blend of theoretical and practical knowledge. The program design is compact and is customised to focus on real world relevance. The personal interaction with global faculty and students ensures a greater level of learning and development."



Mr. Puneet K Narula, Country Director – India & Head – University Partnerships, Executive Education, Nanyang Technological University said, "Nanyang Business School (NBS), Singapore with its deep expertise in the area of tourism and hospitality through its undergraduate program and long association with Cornell university is well positioned to support and collaborate with Thomas Cook (India) while it embarks on increasing its footprint in Asia through latest acquisitions. We at NBS are very excited with today's signing for hosting Global Immersion program at Singapore and hope to build a long term association with Thomas Cook for mutual benefit of both organizations."





The Thomas Cook Centre of Learning has extended this inaugural course to 20 students, on a first cum-first-serve basis. For details and enrolment, contact:Pritesh Prabhu – Pritesh.prabhu@in.thomascook.com




About Nanyang Business School (NBS):

Nanyang Business School (NBS) Singapore is one of the largest business schools in Asia with more than 5000 students and 150+ full time faculty. NBS is part of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) which is ranked 13th in the world as per QS 2015_ rankings for Universities. Our EMBA is ranked 8th and MBA 38th in the world as per FT 2014 rankings. We at NBS have a large portfolio of courses for middle to senior executives. From an MBA for young executives to short term leadership programs for middle/senior leaders, we run our programs in collaboration with leading business schools in the world like Berkeley, Cornell School of Hospitality and Wharton. NBS ishome to some of the revered faculty who are thought leaders in their respective areas of expertise including Prof Vijay Sethi was declared the WORLD's BEST BUSINESS PROFESSOR – 2013 by Economist Intelligence Unit.



About Centre of Learning:

Centre of Learning is an initiative of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. to develop talent for the organization as well as for the Industry. In the context of high growth and increasing customer expectations, talent management will be one of the important challenges to the Travel Industry. This relates to both the shortage of actual numbers and the desired capability levels from both a technical and managerial perspective. Thomas Cook - Centre of Learning has been set up with the objective of proactively facilitating the talent management in the travel industry and would strive to grow, harness and nurture the skill sets in the industry.



About Thomas Cook (India) Limited:

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd (TCIL) is the leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services that include Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Insurance, Visa & Passport services and E-Business. The company set up its first office in India in 1881.



TCIL's footprint (exclusive of its subsidiaries) currently extends to over 232 locations (including 23 airport counters) in 94 cities across India, Mauritius & Sri Lanka and is supported by a strong partner network of 115 Gold Circle Partners and 112 Preferred Sales Agents in over 130 cities across India.



ICRA has upgraded the long term rating of Thomas Cook (India) Limited's non-convertible debenture programme to 'ICRA AA/Stable'. CRISIL has assigned a long term rating of CRISIL AA-/ stable outlook to the non convertible debenture programme and long term banking facilities and short term rating of CRISIL A1+ to TCIL's banking facilities. Further, ICRA has assigned a rating of 'ICRA AA-/Stable' to the company's proposed preference share programme.



Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been voted as Favourite Outbound Tour Operator at the Outlook Traveller Awards 2015, Best Tour Operator - Outbound at the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2015, 2014 & 2013 and Best Company providing Foreign Exchange at the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2015 & 2014; felicitated with Diamond Award for Exemplary Achievements in Visa Issuance at the French Ambassador's Travel Awards Ceremony 2015; Thomas Cook India's Travel Quest was honoured with a Gold Award at PATA Gold Awards 2015; honored as India's Leading Tour Operator 2014, World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia 2014, Favourite Tour Operator at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Travel Awards 2014, 2013, 2012 & 2011 ,recognized as a Consumer Superbrand 2013-14 & 2012-2013 and National Tourism Awards 2013-2014. Thomas Cook India's Centre of Learning has received IATA accreditation as "Top 10 South Asia IATA Authorized Training Centers"2015, 2013 & 2012. For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in



Thomas Cook (India) Limited is promoted by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited and its controlled affiliates. Fairbridge is responsible for the execution of acquisition and investment opportunities in the Indian subcontinent on behalf of the Fairfax family of companies.



TCIL has announced the acquisition of Kuoni Travel (India) Private Limited, a travel operator in India, and Kuoni Travel (China) Limited, a premium travel operator in Hong Kong



About Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited:

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a financial services holding company based in Canada with a global presence in insurance and reinsurance, as well as joint ventures including ICICI Lombard (India). The Company, founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PremWatsa, has over the past 30 years, demonstrated a strong and consistent financial track record. For the year ended December 31, 2014, Fairfax increased book value per share at a compounded annual growth rate of 21.1% since its inception with a corresponding compounded annual increase in share price 19.8% and had over US $36 billion of assets.



Fairfax is engaged in long term investments from its own resources, with a focus to delivering long term capital appreciation through a flexible and value oriented approach. Fairfax Financial Holdings through Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. owns 73.96% on a fully diluted basis of the Quess Corp Limited (formerly IKYA Human Capital Solutions Limited), a provider of specialised Human Resource related Services and 100% of Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (formerly Thomas Cook Insurance Services (India) Limited) engaged in time share and resort business.













About Quess Corp Limited (formerly IKYA Human Capital Solutions Limited):

Quess Corp Ltd., India's leading business services provider established in 2007. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the company has over 1,10,000 employees, serves over 1500 customers across 8 countries in more than 8000 locations. It has presence across 5 verticals namely, Global Technology Solutions, Industrial Asset Management, Integrated Facilities Management, People Services & Logistics and Growth Businesses Group.With revenues of about USD 400 million, Quess Corp Ltd. is a step-down subsidiary of USD 37+ billion (as of 30th Sept 2014) multinational, Fairfax Financial Holdings Group; held through its Indian listed subsidiary, Thomas Cook India Limited. For further details on Quess Corp Ltd. please visit: http://www.quesscorp.com



About Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited:

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, a pioneer in vacation ownership and a leading leisure hospitality company in India, was incorporated in 1986 with the vision of delivering great holiday experiences to Indian families. To achieve this vision, the company pioneered Vacation Ownership in India and set about building a network of leisure resorts at some of the best holiday destinations in India. Currently, Sterling Holidays has a total inventory of 1767 rooms spread across a network of 24 resorts in 21 scenic holiday destinations in India.



In pursuance of the Order of Hon'ble High Court, Bombay, dated 2nd July, 2015 sanctioning the Composite Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation between Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) Limited (SHRIL) and Thomas Cook Insurance Services (India) Limited (TCISIL) and Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL) and their respective shareholders and creditors (Scheme), the time share and resort business division and undertaking of SHRIL was Demerged into TCISIL and the residual business of SHRIL was Amalgamated with TCIL.



Post implementation of composite scheme, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (formerly Thomas Cook Insurance Services (India) Limited) continued the time share and resort business.

Originally Source : Perfect Relations