In this podcast we talk to Yahya Shakhshir about Hospitality education and training in Vancouver, Canada.  Yahya is currently the Managing Director at Cornerstone International Community College of Canada, one of the top private Colleges located in Vancouver.  He is a passionate, driven and dedicated hotelier with 18 years in the Hospitality and Education industry. He has international experience in 9 different countries, with expertise in the field of Rooms Division.  Yahya shares his experience in hospitality education and his insights into how hospitality education in Canada is different from other countries, and how private hospitality colleges differ from public institutions.  With a pragmatic approach to hospitality training, Yahya explains why practical training is so important for young people entering the hospitality field today.  He also touches upon micro-credentials, a way for working adults in the hospitality field to pursue life-long learning.  Finally, Yahya talks about why immigration is so important, not only for Canada’s hospitality and tourism sectors, but for their technical and IT sectors as well. Yahya is a member of the British Columbia Hotel Association BCHA, Customer Advisory Board member and Faculty member of AHLEI (American Hotel Lodging Educational Institute) and he has successfully taught 20+ Hospitality and Business courses to hundreds of students throughout his career. In addition, he has helped create and develop new programs and courses and ensured instructors are all well-trained and evaluated to maintain quality standards. Yahya has recently launched a Hospitality training and consulting firm focusing on improving operational and conceptual skills within the Hotel Industry.