Mur Lura
POINTS FROM SPEECH BY THE HON MICHAEL REFALO, MINISTER OF TOURISM, DURING PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE CRAFT AND TECHNICAL COURSES AT THE INSTITUTE OF TOURISM STUDIES
30/05/2001
The Hon. Michael Refalo, Minister of Tourism, today addressed a press conference on the restructuring of the craft and technical courses at the Institute of Tourism Studies. The following are points from the Minister's speech
Current trends in the hospitality and the expansion of the tourism industry in general and the hotel and catering sectors of the Maltese islands in particular call for an increase in the supply of personnel trained to a thorough basic level in generic areas such as health and safety, communication skills, customer care and languages.
In parallel rather than specialising in one specific technical area new international vocational programmes have moved towards equipping students and employees with multiple practical skills. Those who complete such programmes and join the industry have more flexibility and adaptability, are able to move more easily between departments and establishments and enjoy the privilege of having a wider choice in terms of employment, area and destination.
This phenomenon is not just local to Malta. Recent surveys show that in EU member states there is a 20% shortfall of trained manpower in the leisure industry. The prospect therefore of some potential flooding of the leisure market by masses of EU unemployed is even more unreal and unlikely now than it was when this so called threat was first mentioned by the scare-mongering opponents of Malta's membership in the EU.
This particular skills shortage exists in Malta and Gozo especially in the area of Food and Beverage Service. It is this shortage which the restructuring of craft and technical courses at ITS aims to address with the necessary urgency.
Therefore to meet the industry's needs and commencing from the next academic year ITS has restructured its craft and technical courses to allow for the introduction of two new one year foundation programmes which will offer generic vocational education combined with specific skills in Food and Beverage Service together with either Food Preparation and Production or Accommodation Services. These courses include a fifteen week local industrial placement where students will be able to further develop their knowledge and skills prior to taking up full time employment. Candidates who apply to follow these foundation courses will only require a school leaving certificate at Form V level prior to acceptance and to show their aptitude, potential for interest in the hospitality industry.
The immediate effect expected from the introduction of these new ITS courses is an increase in the number of young men and women trained and able to join the industry as multi-skilled operatives after one year of training, equipped with an internationally accredited City and Guilds qualification and the required craft experience to satisfy the industry's present needs.
The new courses which ITS will be offering during Academic Year 2001 / 2002 and beyond do not imply any lowering of the high standards which the Institute expects from those who apply for the other courses which the industry offers.
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