Advance programme launches second intake

Advance - Training Tourism Leaders’ is a nationwide training programme similar to ones run in the UK and other countries for employees and managers working in the tourism under the auspices of the Malta Tourism Authority.

The programme, for which €3 million have been allocated, is accepting applications for its second intake of participants - managers, supervisors and those who wish to enter the tourism field. The Advance programme is fully funded by the European Social Fund and the Government of Malta. Similar courses, which cost around €12,000 per participant, are being offered absolutely free of charge. The course, leads participants to gain an internationally recognised qualification equivalent to a university diploma.

A total of 450 managers and supervisors are being trained for the first intake. Soon after openings for the second intake were announced 300 places secured.

This nationwide training programme, the first of its kind in Malta, is being offered on two platforms - one for senior managers and another for those in supervisory and middle management positions in the tourism and hospitality sector.

‘Advance’ is the ideal training course for those working in senior or supervisory management positions in the tourism sector - accommodation, catering travel or transport, visitor attractions, English language schools, scuba diving, the creative industry (crafts, performing arts, recording studios and others) and any other sector which is involved with tourism. The programme is also open to those who are not currently working in tourism but are interested in being trained to move to it.

Both programmes are being taught by twelve foreign world class foreign speakers. To mention just three - Paul Sloane is a leading expert in creative problem solving and lateral leadership who has written 17 books of which 2 million copies have been sold; Dimitrios Buhalis, a leading Strategic Management and Marketing expert with a specialisation in Technology and Tourism and Director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR) at Bournemouth University; Jim Hamill, another world class speaker, is widely acknowledged as a leading expert on tourism marketing, customer led e-business and Tourism 2.0.

One-to-one mentoring will be offered to participants and training sessions will be held in leading tourism establishments. Also, fees for child-minding for the duration of the course will be reimbursed. At the end of the course, the top participants would also be able to take part in a hands on internship programme abroad.

Enrollment is limited and will be allocated on a first come. More information is available by calling on 21456820 or visit www.advance.com.mt.