The mission of the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS) is to act as the key provider of vocational training for future workers in our thriving hospitality industry. The institute enables its students to improve their skills and obtain qualifications which will allow them to find employment in this industry while also enhancing the quality of the services offered.
Since taking over the responsibility for ITS, my long-term objective is that of taking the Institute to the next level, that is, work to greatly enhance the international reputation of the Institute, and consequently to reap the fruits of this reputation.
In line with this objective, a process aimed at positioning the ITS on the road to becoming a centre of excellence in the field of hospitality was initiated.
This process required some changes within ITS, particularly in terms of its human resources and specifically the management of the Institute. Over the past decade, ITS has gone through turbulent times that brought about a weakening in its core management structure. Consequently, the burden of managing on a day-to-day basis fell on the few people who were left behind, with the inevitable negative impact it had on internal management processes and quality standards, among others.
In order to reverse this unwarranted state of affairs, adequate measures have been taken to bolster the level of human resources available to run the ITS efficiently and effectively. Moreover, special focus was put on the aspect of Quality Assurance, with specific structures established to ensure that all processes are administered according to set quality criteria.
This year, the Ministry for Tourism commissioned a study on the impact of tourism activity on employment. From this exercise it is estimated that tourism activity sustains around 20,500 full-time jobs and another 7,500 part-time jobs. One in every seven jobs in Malta is generated through direct tourism expenditure. This means that 11 per cent of jobs created are directly supported by the tourism industry. The six per cent increase in tourism expenditure experienced in 2014 is estimated to have created 500 new jobs.
Moreover, wages in the tourism sector are increasing significantly and constantly when compared to the average increase in wages of other sectors.
In Gozo, out of the 6,900 private sector jobs, 30 per cent can be attributed to the tourism sector, equivalent to 20 per cent of all jobs on the island. This means that one in every five jobs in Gozo is created through direct and indirect tourism activity.
The implementation of a long-term Quality Assurance Action Plan has led to the setting up of an Internal Quality Assurance Committee (IQAC), which has been tasked with producing a Quality Assurance Handbook, with guidelines set out for lecturers and staff members. Concurrently, a Programme Quality Validation Board (PQVB) has been established with the remit of reviewing and certifying all the material approved by the Board of Studies according to pre-defined Quality Assurance standards. Also, various internal committees, and others with the input of different stakeholders, have also been established in order to assist the ITS in implementing Quality Assurance practices holistically, always within the overall context of the above-mentioned long-term Quality Assurance Action Plan.
In parallel with this, the previous syllabi were reviewed and revised in line with the above quality standards, and ITS has the very first syllabus that has gone through a comprehensive and rigorous Quality Assurance process, while also engaging in an internal and external consultation process. The internal consultations in particular proved valuable in bringing back a sense of belongingness among the academic staff, as they now are being involved in the entire planning process. On the other hand, continuous interaction with external stakeholders serves to ensure that what the Institute is teaching is in line with current and future industry practices.
The courses are also available to full-time employees in the industry who are seeking new or further qualifications. Such individuals can now enrol in ITS courses - both those currently offered full-time as well as specific courses related to the tourism industry on a part-time basis. This extension of the Institute's remit will inevitably put the current structure of ITS to further test, as the Institute's campus has its own structural limitations. However, ITS is determined to ensure that it delivers a more balanced syllabus that also includes an enhanced practical element for participants.
The wheels of change are now finally moving, and another challenging, and interesting, academic year for the Institute is anticipated. In line with this vision, a host of new procedures will be implemented, while others will be re-introduced. Adapting an inclusive approach to this necessary process of change, in order to facilitate its implementation and ensure its effectiveness means more. The same will happen for the implementation of the Quality Assurance Action Plan, which will take place over the next two years.
The introduction of a totally revamped syllabus will inevitably require a period of adaptation, along with careful monitoring, evaluation, and a proper and ongoing assessment process, while always keeping the requirements of the students as the focal point. As mentioned earlier, the increased influx of students benefitting from ITS courses will put increased strain on the Institute's campus and management, therefore, it must be ensured that management structures will be further re-enforced where necessary and appropriate resources will be allocated in order to appropriately manage this challenge.
The government is confident that all the changes it has been implementing, and those that are imminent, together with a renewed spirit of teamwork and effective collaboration between academic and non-academic staff at ITS, will result in the achievement of all the important quality objectives and drastically improved academic standards we have set out that the institute surely needs. This is being done solely for the benefit of students, the tourism industry and the country as a whole as we maintain our pace for further sustainable growth.
Dr Zammit Lewis is the Minister for Tourism