The Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) has signed an agreement with the Aqaba University of Technology (AUT) in Jordan, which will result in ITS offering higher education programmes in the Southern Gulf region, making the Institute the first Maltese educational institution to export education.

At the moment, this study programme is being offered at the ISDSM premises situated at the ITS campus in Gozo, with lectures mostly held online and practice sessions held in Gozo.

Students who will be enrolling for this course through AUT will be carrying out their practice sessions in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.

This programme is offered by ITS’s subsidiary, The International School of Diving & Safety Management (ISDSM) in collaboration with DAN Europe.

This agreement is another step in the Institute of Tourism Studies’ quest towards internalisation, as outlined in its Strategic Plan for 2021-2025.

ITS has been collaborating with a number of renowned international institutions and universities and in 2018 also signed an agreement with The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), resulting in the Institute offering its first Master’s Degree programme and for all other programmes to be in academic affiliation with EAHM.

Due to the Aqaba University of Technology position, within the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea, the University is specifically, but not solely, interested in offering the ITS’ Bachelor of Science in Diving Safety Management programme.

In a joint statement, ITS Chairman and CEO, Mr Carlo Micallef and Mr Pierre Fenech, said that this agreement will lead Jordanians as well as nationals from the University’s area, which include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and Palestine, to also come to train and follow their studies in Malta.

They said that apart from the AUT, ITS is also being approached by a number of other international institutions and universities from different regions across the world to collaborate with the Institute. In line with the ITS strategic plan 2021-2025, this agreement will lead to ITS offering what it is successfully offering locally to the international market.

Aqaba University of Technology President, Prof Abu-Darwish, thanked the Maltese Government, who through ITS and this agreement, will be providing high-level education and also training courses in Aqaba which will be beneficial for the development of the area.

Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo said that this agreement goes hand in hand with the government’s strategy to internationalise ITS and turn the Institute into a centre of excellence in the Mediterranean for hospitality and tourism studies.

Photo: ITS

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