On 24 January 2020, the (ITTC) held a seminar entitled Tourism and culture professionals in a competitive for tourism and cultural industries stakeholders, at the University of Malta Msida Campus.
The ITTC Director, , explained in her welcoming speech that success in tourism depends on having tourism practitioners who are well prepared and ITTC prepares their students to become professionals and practitioners who will work in tourism, culture and related industries. ITTC graduates go on to build careers in middle and senior management in the private, public and tertiary sector, mainly in Malta but some also decide to include working in other countries as part of their career progression.
As part of the University of Malta鈥檚 Quality Assurance, academic programmes are continuously updated. However, every 4 or 5 years a formal review, called a Periodic Programme Review (PPR) takes place to ensure that quality education is provided and that this truly addresses the needs of students and of the dynamic industry. To address these issues, the PPR process included substantial consultations with tourism and culture practitioners. The seminar was in fact the latest in the series of industry consultations and which also included input from present and past students of ITTC.
Speakers at the seminar included Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino, Pro-Rector (International Development & Quality Assurance) and Chair of the Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture and Prof. Joseph M. Cacciottolo, Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs. Mr. Joe Tanti from the Malta Business Bureau spoke about the need for tertiary education for the workplace.
The main feature of the seminar was a debate by a panel of professionals who work in tourism, hospitality and culture and these were followed up with feedback and queries from the audience. The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr Noel Buttigieg and Dr John Ebejer who spoke about the main changes to the tourism studies programme as a result of the PPR process.
Dr Marie Avellino closed the event which was followed by a fruitful networking lunch.
