The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) signed a MoU with the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), at the 7th International Hospitality & Tourism Conference, organised by the Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management of UiTM.
The signing marked a significant milestone for both parties in addressing the Academia and Tourism Industry gap.
The MoU signifies a mutual commitment to building closer ties between MATTA and UiTM to promote the following:
• Institutional exchanges of faculty, staff, and students.
• Acceptance of Graduate and Undergraduate students for study and research
opportunities.
• Research opportunities through symposia, conferences, and short courses.
• Exchange of insights and updates on tourism industry trends and advancements.
• Promotion of joint initiatives to strengthen ties between education and industry.
Both parties aim to actively exchange information on developments in the tourism industry and research institutions while supporting and promoting each other’s initiatives. The collaboration allows for the exploration of additional avenues of cooperation as mutually agreed upon.
In addition to the collaborative framework established through the MoU, MATTA has emphasised its focus on talent development within the tourism industry.
These initiatives are to ensure the continuous development, growth and adaptability of talent in the evolving tourism landscape now and in the future.
MATTA will spearhead initiatives such as the MATTA Tourism Talent Expo, a platform dedicated to promoting education, talent development, upskilling, and reskilling efforts of industry personnel. Targeted to be held during the upcoming National MATTA Fair from 18-20 April 2024, the Talent Expo is aimed at advancing career growth specifically in the Travel, Hospitality, Tourism and the Airlines industry. It will also feature many expert industry professionals leading various workshops during the 3-day fair.
Nigel Wong, President of MATTA, expressed his optimism about the collaboration, stating, “Through this partnership with UiTM, we hope to provide a chance to bridge the gap between academic excellence and industry needs. It sets a benchmark to better equip the tourism and hospitality industry to excel in an ever-changing global business environment. MATTA, through the MATTA Academy and its strategic partnerships is looking into addressing the manpower needs for a growing industry. We intend to prosper and shape a resilient, future-focused industry.”
Source – MATTA