The University of Malta’s new Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture introduced itself and its programmes to stakeholders in the sector during a seminar at the Aula Magna, University Valletta Campus held on 6 April. Participants included persons active in the fields of tourism, travel and culture. Speakers at the Seminar comprised the Hon. Dr Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, University Rector Prof. Juanito Camilleri, and the Institute’s Director, Dr Nadia Theuma.
During this event, Dr de Marco presented the first award for Best Tourism Studies Student to Ms Maria Gauci, who graduated B.A.(Hons) Tourism Studies in November 2010. An award was also presented by Skäl International Malta for the Best Dissertation in 2010 by a Tourism Studies Student. This was given to Ms Rodianne Zarb whose dissertation was about “The relationship between tourists’ value-types, environmental concern and response to eco-labels”.
The Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture seeks to provide the highest quality education possible to undergraduate and graduate students, to enable them to successfully assume responsible positions within the tourism, travel, cultural heritage and leisure industries. It aims to support the Maltese tourism industry through the Institute’s programmes and to carry out and disseminate research which is of value to the Maltese Tourism industry, the University of Malta and Maltese society, as well as the international Tourism community.
Course Programmes offered by the ITTC include the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Tourism Studies which is a three-year course of full-time study. Its main objectives are to provide a comprehensive background to the international and Maltese dimensions of the tourism industry and to equip students with skills to critically analyze the tourism industry and its impacts on society, the environment and the economy. The Master of Arts (Tourism) programme develops the intellectual abilities of students through study units that promote deeper understanding of the current themes facing the tourism, travel, cultural heritage and leisure sectors. The Diploma in Gastronomy, which is a part-time programme of studies, is aimed particularly at practitioners in the food and hospitality industry. Studies pay special attention to the history and anthropology of food and gastronomy and their cultural aspects, the communication and interdisciplinary aspects of sociological and psychological theories, product communication and marketing strategies, basic concepts of nutrition education, and food technology and current techniques in sensory analysis.
The Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture also offers post-graduate students the opportunity to pursue doctoral research and studies in a wide range of subjects related to tourism, travel and culture.