Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544188
5 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 2 APRIL 2026 NEWS ITS and École Hôtelière de Genève launch international study programmes in Gozo THE Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) has announced a strategic academic partner- ship with École Hôtelière de Genève, a prestigious hospital- ity education institution based in Geneva, Switzerland, to de- liver hospitality and tourism fo- cused study-weeks in Gozo. Founded in 1914 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, École Hôtelière de Genève is a non-profit hospitality manage- ment school recognised for its academic excellence, applied learning approach and close links with industry. The insti- tution prepares students for international careers in hos- pitality, service and experi- ence-based industries. The collaboration between ITS and École Hôtelière de Genève will initially focus on the development and delivery of multiple academic study week programmes which rep- resent the first joint initiative between the two institutions. These programmes will be hosted at the ITS Gozo Campus and are designed specifically for École Hôtelière de Genève students. These programmes which will focus on hospitali- ty and tourism education, are designed to build confidence in participants through first- hand experience that combines structured learning, with cul- tural exposure and real-world hospitality environments. Dur- ing this time, EHG students will practice various skills rang- ing from a) linguistic, such as applied English language in a hospitality context, b) culinary skills, such as the preparation of Maltese recipes, to c) soft skills such as the Maltese histo- ry and culture, through visits to key heritage sites with a tourist guide. Through these programmes, participants will gain hands- on learning experiences while developing professional Eng- lish communication skills for hospitality, including guest in- teraction, service dialogue and intercultural communication. The initiative also highlights Malta and Gozo as destinations where education, culture and hospitality intersect. The programme has been de- veloped in collaboration with École Hôtelière de Genève to address the linguistic needs of their students within a tour- ism context and will initially be offered exclusively to EHG students. ITS is also exploring similar immersive programmes in the future which may be open to both international and local participants. Speaking about the agree- ment, Pierre Fenech, Chief Executive Officer of ITS, said: "International partnerships are an important part of ITS's vi- sion to expand learning oppor- tunities beyond the classroom and strengthen our global en- gagement. Through this col- laboration with École Hôtelière de Genève, we are creating programmes that combine ac- ademic learning with cultural and professional experiences, while also promoting Malta and Gozo as destinations for high-quality hospitality educa- tion." Susanne Welle, Director at the École Hôtelière de Genève added that "International expo- sure is a fundamental compo- nent of hospitality education. Through this partnership with the Institute of Tourism Stud- ies, our students will strength- en their professional commu- nication skills in English while discovering a different hospi- tality culture. This immersive experience in Malta will further prepare them for internation- al internships and careers in a global service industry". In conclusion, Andrew Debat- tista, General Manager of Com- mercial Operations at the In- stitute of Tourism Studies adds that "Gozo is a destination that provides an idyllic fabric, con- ducive to the goals and objec- tives of such initiatives. Having École Hôtelière de Genève join in on these initiatives, is not only aligned to the Institutes goals and objectives, but even more so, complementary to na- tional strategies in tourism and education development". By combining ITS's academic expertise with École Hôtelière de Genève's specialised hospi- tality education focus, the col- laboration aims to deliver study holiday programmes that meet international standards and re- spond to the expectations of to- day's globally mobile learners. Students at ITS (Photo: ITS)