An MBA in International Hospitality Management will be part of the curriculum offered by the Institute of Tourism Studies as of the next scholastic year.
The course, which is being done in academic affiliation with the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management – one of the top 10 hospitality education institutions in the world, is aimed at those individuals who want to progress into senior roles within the hospitality industry.
The course focuses on modules such as applied statistics for business research, service operations management, business research models, hotel asset management, innovation leadership, managing human capital, law and ethics in the business world, and digital marketing amongst others.
It will cost €3,000 per semester for EU Nationals and €4,600 per semester for non-EU Nationals, although students can get 70% back in tax credit through the Get Qualified scheme. The course duration is of 18 months – three semesters – and is a part-time evening course which is recognised across the EU, UK, Australia, and United Arab Emirates.
Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi said that he was confident that all stakeholders share a common vision for tourism, and noted that he wanted to reposition Malta’s market to attract tourists who spend more money per night in the country.
He noted that ITS is a key part of the country’s strategy, noting that the institute had a role in providing quality human resources to the industry. He said that he would like to see foreign workers complement Maltese workers in this sector, and noted that as Malta’s international offering grows more local students can be financed. He also said that they were looking into the possibility of providing student accommodation for international students to live comfortably.
Tonio Cini from the MHRA said that ITS has already produced entrepreneurs and leaders in the business who are working both locally and internationally, and noted that this MBA will help the sector increase its quality, which is what the country needs at the moment.
Chairman of ITS Board of Governors Carlo Micallef said that the past year in the institute’s new campus in Luqa had been a success for all and noted that it is clear that the tourism industry has a lot to offer in terms of career opportunities and also in terms of the unprecedented growth that it has seen.