Bolpur, May 6: Visva-Bharati has decided to tie up with hospitality management institutions across the country to train employees in the central university's guest houses that are frequented by VVIPs like the Prime Minister, the President and diplomats.

The move, sources said, followed suggestions by several high-profile visitors that the six guest houses on the university campus needed upgrade to be on a par with accommodations in other central universities.

In the past few months, visitors like the ambassador to China, Ashok Kantha, and India's envoy to Japan, Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, have stayed in Visva-Bharati. Admiral Mohammed Nizamuddin Ahmed of the Bangladesh navy had visited Santiniketan in December.

Asked about suggestions from the visitors, pro vice-chancellor Swapan Kumar Datta said: "Mosquito nets still have to be used in the rooms, unlike in modern hotels. The morning tea is often delayed and the guests have to come out of their rooms to ask for extra cups at times. The behaviour of the staff also has to improve. We plan to train them with help from hospitality institutions."

"An official from Delhi who recently stayed in one of the guest houses mentioned several areas where improvement is needed - from interior decoration to setting up tables for five-course meals," Dutta added.

The varsity has decided to begin training the staff of the guest houses with a two-day workshop on May 9. Officials from renowned hotels and resorts will join the programme.

Visva-Bharati public relations officer Anirban Sircar said: "The guest house staff need to understand the finer points of serving. For example, our waiters do not know that beverages should be served from the right side of the guest and food items from the left. New types of food, international cuisines, five-course meals - all these have to be introduced. The interior decoration has to be spruced up."