One of the first public engagements by the new Rector of the University of Malta, Professor Alfred J. Vella, saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the University and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA). Mr Anthony Zahra, signed the MoU as President of MHRA, while the other signatories were Professor Andrew Jones, the Director of the University's Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture (ITTC) and Mr Andrew Agius Muscat, the Chief Executive Officer of the MHRA.

In his words after the signing, Professor Vella stated that "the MoU was another tangible sign of the University building bridges with industry stakeholders and, in particular, the travel and tourism sectors that accounted for some 30% of Malta's GDP". In his reply, Mr Zahra thanked "the University and, in particular, its Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture, for instilling a sense of professionalism in the future leaders of the tourism industry". Mr Zahra also praised the very high standard of research in the local and global travel and tourism fields carried out by academics and students of the ITTC.

The MoU, which is for a period of five years, agrees to collaboration on research activities including EU Funded projects, exchange of information, dissertations, data and research reports conducted by members of the institutions. It also describes intended collaboration on the work placement programme of the University's Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture, cooperation on the delivery of short CPD courses and/or master classes on tourism, hospitality and travel matters for MHRA members, collaboration on the Junior MHRA initiative and the joint organisation of conferences and events, as well as any other activities of mutual benefit as may arise from time to time.