Institute for Tourism Studies: Prospectus for Academic Year 1999/2000

The Institute of Tourism Studies has succeeded in obtaining the services of

Dr Jean Luis Aeschlimann the former Director General of the Ecole Hotelier de Lausanne, to prepare an audit on the Institute of Tourism Studies. His brief included the preparation of a three year strategic plan for the development of the ITS including an Organisation structure and to propose the necessary changes in the ITS academic programme.

In his report Dr Aeschlimann proposed various changes to the Programme of Studies which were all unanimously accepted by the Board of Governors of the Institute.

In the call for applications, which will be published on Tuesday, 10^th August, 1999, the structure of the academic programme has been radically changed.

The Programmes of Study of the various courses offered at the ITS have been divided into two sections, namely the Management Career Paths (the Hospitality Management and the Hotel Operations)and the Professional Technical Courses (Accommodation Operations, Food Preparation and Production and the Food and Beverage Service).

The Higher Diploma in Hospitality Management trains future Management personnel for the Hotel and Catering Industry. This is a four year course comprising three years (six semesters of 14 weeks each) at the Institute plus a minimum of one year compulsory international internship. There will also be a local industrial placement between semester 2 and 3. This career path offers a broad introduction to all sectors of the Hospitality Industry supplemented by a solid foundation in the different facets of management techniques.

To be eligible for this career path prospective students must attain a score of eighty credits including two "A" Level standard. Maltese, English and Mathematics are compulsory subjects at least at "O" Level standard. Successful students in this Diploma course are eligible for admission to the University of Malta (B. Comm).

The Hotel Operations career path trains future Supervisors/Head of Departments in the Hotel and Catering Industry. At Certificate level the course is of a two year (four semesters) duration at the Institute plus one local summer internship.

Students who achieve an overall mark of 65% at Certificate level will qualify to attend the Diploma programme after successfully undergoing an international internship of not less than one year. The Diploma programme consists of one year (two academic semesters) full time at the Institute.

To be eligible prospective students must have a score of 70 credits with Maltese, English and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Preference will be given to students possessing "O" Levels in Accounting, Computer Studies, Geography, Business Studies, Economics, Home Economics and other foreign languages.

Under the Professional Technical Courses, the ITS will be offering a course in Accommodation Operations which give opportunities in Front Office, Housekeeping and Reservations.

At Certificate level the duration of this course is of two years (four semesters) full time at the Institute. Students can proceed up to Diploma level upon achieving an overall mark of 65% at Certificate Level and undergo an international internship of not less than one year. The Diploma programme consists of one year full time at the Institute.

Applicants for the Accommodation Operations career path must have a minimum score of 40 credits with preference being given to foreign languages at "O" Level.

The Board of Governors has also accepted the recommendations made by Dr Jean Luis Aeschlimann that the intake for the Tourism Studies career path, which comprises three different courses - Tourist Guides, Travel Agencies and Sports and Leisure will be open every alternate year. There will be no intake during the forthcoming Academic Year and the next intake will be for Academic Year 2000/2001.

The Food Preparation and Production course offers careers in the food production in hotels, restaurants and industrial catering companies, while the Food and BeverageService course offers careers in food and beverage service in Hotels, Restaurants, Bars and Fast Food outlets.

As in the other courses, at Certificate level the duration of these two courses is of two years with a further one year to attain Diploma level provided the 65% mark and international internship conditions are satisfied.

The entry academic qualifications for these two courses have been reduced from 30 credits to 25 credits. This was felt necessary in order to attract a sufficient number of students for these craft courses. The members representing the industry on the Board of Governors have often complained that in the last years the Institute has not met the real demand for qualified staff at craft level.

The minimum age for applicants for the Hospitality Management, Hotel Operations and Accommodation Operations is seventeen (17) years as on the 15^th September, 1999 while the minimum age for the Food Preparation and Production and Food and Beverage Service is sixteen (16) years, also as on the 15^th September, 1999.

Another major change in the course programme is the total abolition of the Week In/Week Out programme. During the past two years, students in all career paths, had to undergo a work phase during their 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th semesters. During these semesters (16 weeks per semester), full time students were required to undertake compulsory industrial training in local establishments every alternate week. The Board of Governors of the ITS fully endorsed the recommendation made by the Consultant that the Week-in/Week-out system during semesters 2 to 4 was disruptive and confusing for students and that it was premature to send students out in the industry with only rudimentary professional skills.

The Institute will also be offering an Entry Level Studies Programme. Applicants for Food Preparation and Production and Food and Beverage Service courses, who do not have the necessary entry criteria, but have a minimum of 18 credits (School Leaving Certificate plus one (1) "O" Level) will be offered the opportunity of attending this Programme in order to build enough credits to apply at a subsequent call for applications. This programme is offered on a part time basis.

The Institute of Tourism Studies will be retaining the Extended Skills Training Scheme (ESTS) in the hospitality trades. This course, which has proved to be successful, is intended for those students (school leavers) who do not satisfy the entry conditions. This course is a two (2) year apprenticeship programme offered in collaboration with the Education Department and the Employment and Training Corporation and the ITS.

The Board of Governors of the Institute is striving hard to meet its mission, that of providing Malta's most important industry, with highly qualified professionals to meet an ever increasing demand.