Subash Sangam - Why I chose a career in Hospitality

Evolution of IHM Chennai

Suresh Kochattil

The Institute of Hotel management, Catering technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai was established in 1963 by Govt. of India at a national level jointly sponsored by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

The campus of ICTAN as it was known then was inaugurated on 6 th November 1963 in the CIT campus at Taramani by the then Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri in the august presence of Thiru K Kamaraj, then President of Indian National Congress and Thiru R Venkatraman, Ministry of Industries and Technical Education, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

A pioneer institute in imparting training to students who aspire for a career in the hospitality sector, the Institute started by offering craft courses and a 3-year diploma in Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition.

The advent of the institute saw craft courses being offered and in 1963 the first batch of diploma students joining to pursue their dreams. Over the years, IHM Chennai became a hub for talented hospitality professionals in hotels in Chennai and other cities in India. Hotel industry in the 70s was still at its infancy and trained professionals were a prized possession.

From 1982, the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India decided that the admissions to the first year of the 3-year diploma course in Hotel Management and Catering technology would be made the Joint Admission Committee of the National Council of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, New Delhi for all Institutes of Hotel Management across the country including Chennai.

The earliest of batches were smaller in size and over the years the numbers went up and so also the number of courses offered by the institute. Today, the total intake of students is around 1250 approximately, per annum.

The 3-year diploma in Hotel Management has been upgraded from 2002-03 academic year to a degree course in Hospitality and Hotel Administration by the National Council for Hotel Management, New Delhi in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University. 

Common syllabus for all Diploma Courses at IHMCTAN coming under NHMCT, New Delhi on an All- India basis was introduced in 1982 and was revised from the academic year 1996-97. NHMCT conducts and awards degree and diploma courses offered by Institutes of Hotel Management.

The Govt. of Tamil Nadu was closely associated with the institute since its very inception. From, 1 st April 1979, the entire recurring and capital expenditure is provided by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India. From 1998-99 only the Capital grant is funded by the Govt. of India.

The Institute had a hostel for Boys since 1963 and in 1995 a hostel for Girls was set up.

● Shri A V Kuppuswami was the first principal of the college from June 1963 to May 1976.

● Shri K Ansari Baig joined the college as a full time Principal in Oct 1976 and was in the post till July 1977.

● Dr Eva Sunderajan was the Principal from August 1977 to January 1979.

● The next full-fledged Principal was Shri Inder Bahri whose first tenure of 11 years was from July 1979 to February 1990. Shri Bahri after a short break came back as Principal from March 1991 to Oct 1991.

● The next Principal (Full Time) was Smt A Mullens who had a five year tenure from Dec 1992 to Oct 1997

● Smt Grace Gideon was the Principal from Oct 1997 to January 2006.

● Shri Rajmohan had a long 11year tenure from July 2008 to February 2019.

● At present, Smt Parimala R is the in-charge Principal from August 2021 till date.

The following courses are conducted at IHM Chennai for Indian and foreign nationals:

2-YEAR M.Sc. DEGREE PROGRAMME IN Hospitality Administration under NCHMCT with the collaboration of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi through its affiliated institutes. 

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Hospitality Administration. (Full Time) with intake of 30 seats.

3-YEAR B.SC. DEGREE PROGRAMME IN H&HA UNDER NCHMCT with the collaboration of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi through its affiliated institutes.

● B.Sc. Degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from NCHMCT and the degree is awarded by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) from 2023.

● BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.SC.) IN HOSPITALITY & HOTEL ADMINISTRATION (Full Time)

Course Duration: 3 years; Maximum intake: 347; Qualification: A pass in Plus 2/ H.Sc. or equivalent.

Admission process is conducted by the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Noida & Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The admission will be by Joint Entrance Examination followed by Counselling for allotment of Institutes on merit on All India basis.

● CRAFTSMANSHIP COURSE IN FOOD PRODUCTION & PATISSERIE Course Duration: 1 Year and 6 months. Maximum Intake: 90 seats; Qualification: 10th pass or equivalent.

● CRAFTSMANSHIP COURSE IN FOOD & BEVERAGE SERVICE Course Duration: 6 months. Maximum Intake: 40 seats; Qualification: 10th pass or equivalent.

● DIPLOMA IN FOOD PRODUCTION: Course Duration: I Year and 6 months. Maximum Intake: 80 seats. Qualification: A pass in Plus 2 / H.Sc or equivalent .

● DIPLOMA IN BAKERY & CONFECTIONARY Course Duration: 1 year and 6 months; Maximum Intake: 40 students. Qualification: A pass in Plus 2/H.Sc or equivalent .

● DIPLOMA IN FRONT OFFICE OPERATION Course Duration: 1 year & 6 months; Maximum Intake: 40; Qualification: A pass in Plus 2/H.Sc or equivalent .

● DIPLOMA IN HOUSEKEEPING OPERATION Course Duration: 1 year & 6 months; Maximum Intake: 40; Qualification: A pass in Plus 2/H.Sc or equivalent .

● DIPLOMA IN FOOD & BEVERAGE SERVICE Course Duration: 1 year & 6 months; Maximum Intake: 40; Qualification: A pass in Plus 2/H.Sc or equivalent

● POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN DIETETICS  HOSPITAL FOOD SERVICE Course Duration: 1 year & 6 months. Intake: 20; Qualification: Graduate in Home science and Nutrition.

● POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ACCOMMODATION OPERATION & MANAGEMENT Course, Duration: 1 year and 6 months. Intake: 30 students; Qualification: Graduation in any stream.