INSTITUTE FOR TOURISM STUDIES’ GRADUATION Ceremony

Minister for Tourism Michael Refalo presided over the ITS graduation ceremony. The Institute’s two campuses host over 850 students while a further hundred or so are furthering their studies and work experience on industrial placements overseas.

The Minister congratulated all graduands, a number of whom have already found employment in the travel and tourism industry, and said that it was now ITS policy to hold graduation ceremony as near as possible to the date that students pass their finals.

"We had originally planned to hold this event in November. Regrettably too, many students were still on placement overseas and the event had to be put off. In future ITS plans to hold graduation day within the same year that students complete their course."

The Minister said that every time he was asked to speak at similar events it was always easy for him to announce something "new". "ITS has become such a dynamic institution. Graduation days are not only for ITS students. Only a couple of months ago I had the pleasure to preside over a similar ceremony when twelve members of the academic staff successfully concluded a course in Tourism Education at the University of Malta, as part of the ITS staff development programme.

Since then I am pleased to announce that one Instructor has been promoted to Assistant Lecturer and eleven Assistant Lecturers have made the grade as Lecturers. ITS will leave no stone unturned to ensure that its needs are serviced by fully qualified staff".

The Minister then referred to the investment which Government was making to see that the tourist industry was sufficiently provided with professionally qualified staff.

"We are very much aware that staff at establishments in the middle to lower levels of the industry have not always received the benefit of professional training. As from mid-February ITS will offer those who have never benefited from training the opportunity to follow intensive courses in F&B service and production as well as other crafts".

Minister Refalo continued that everyone had come round to accepting that there will be no flooding of the tourism employment market following Malta’s membership of the European Union.

"We must nevertheless make sure that Malta’s labour force is in a position to compete and win. The agreement with the EU, which retains the work permit system in place, allows us to set professional training benchmarks and bar untrained workers from joining the labour market. It is therefore of the essence that all Maltese workers are well trained".

Some time ago the ITS undertook a Tracer Study to establish how many graduates still worked in the industry. "We are extremely pleased that the report proves that over the span of ten years since opening 76% of ITS graduates have made tourism their career. This by far exceeds the European average, reflects the higher profile achieved by careers in tourism, as well as the variety of job opportunities which the industry offers to Malta’s youth".

The Minister added that the problem facing Malta was more likely that of losing qualified staff to European members states than the reverse.

"What has happened to the 24% who are no longer working in tourism? Some have opted for a different career, others are no longer in the job market while a number have taken up jobs overseas. ITS is currently finalising this part of the Tracer Study to establish the reasons why these 24% are no longer in tourism."

The Minister said that Food Preparation and Production students had recently competed and acquitted themselves excellently in the Malta Food and Cookery Association’s Culinary Competition, winning Three Gold medals, 4 Silver, 4 Bronze and 6 Certificates of Merit.

Minister Refalo said that he was mostly impressed by the fact that ITS students had cleared the board by winning all top prizes available for hygiene. "This is an outstanding and extremely important achievement. Over time one learns new recipes, new presentation techniques and new "tricks". But it is the basic skills and principles that constitute good foundations.

It is imperative that all those who handle food at any stage of the food chain put into practice the principles of hygiene and food safety. Only recently Parliament discussed legislation on the subject. It is equally important that hoteliers, restauranteurs, and anyone working along the chain who comes into contact or handles food knows exactly what the law provides and expects of practitioners."

"I therefore urge students, members of ITS academic staff, the trade, suppliers and manufacturers to attend the MHRA Seminar on Hygiene and Food Safety which will be held on the 24^th January 2002.

The Ministry of Tourism is the event’s main sponsor and it is therefore open to all those who wish to attend. It is a must for all those who take their business and profession seriously and care for their customers."

The Minister congratulated new graduates and wished them all success in their career.