ITS opens second China campus
The campus will offer qualifications recognised by both Malta and China
The Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) has opened its second satellite campus in China through a partnership with a tourism college in Zhengzhou.
The move follows the opening of the institute’s first Chinese satellite campus in Shanghai in 2023.
Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Ian Borg inaugurated the new campus within Zhengzhou Tourism College (ZTC) on Tuesday morning as part of a three-day official visit to China.
In a statement, the Tourism Ministry called the new campus a “major milestone” in ITS’ strategic plan, explaining the campus would offer a three-year, full-time course in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
The campus will offer up to 40 places annually, with students graduating with a dual qualification recognised by the Chinese government and Malta.
The qualification will comprise a Chinese Ministry-accredited vocational diploma, and a Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) Level 5 undergraduate diploma equivalent to those awarded at the main ITS campus in Malta.
Borg said the new campus “empowers ITS to continue augmenting the quality of its education to all its students in Malta and China, by ensuring that they benefit from curricula that are industry-relevant and internationally benchmarked.”
“This collaboration also reminds us that bilateral cooperation goes beyond traditional diplomacy. Education is not only a tool for individual advancement, but also a bridge between nations”, he said.
ITS CEO Pierre Fenech said Chinese campus was part of the institute’s “proactive vision to build global connections through vocational training that meets international industry standards”.
Wang Yanhong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhengzhou Tourism College, called the partnership an “opportunity to establish a closer, longer-term collaboration in tourism education”.