Certificate Level

Course Content and Duration

The Travel Agency Operations Certificate course is a full-time two-year (four semesters) programme of studies at the Institute plus a compulsory fourteen (14) weeks Local Industrial Trade Practice at a local Travel Agency between semester 2 and semester 3.

Entry Criteria

Applicants should possess:

i.  Ordinary SEC Certificates in the following compulsory subjects: Maltese and English.

The following are the preferred subjects:

• Geography
• Computer Studies
• Economics
• Mathematics
• Any other language

All applicants will be assessed on the basis of their Accreditation for Prior Learning (APL) score, composed of their academic qualifications and their Accreditation for Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Applicants opting for this career path are required to have a minimum APL/APEL of forty (40) credits to become eligible for consideration.

Minimum Age:

The minimum age for applicants for these programmes of studies is seventeen (17) years of age as on 31st December 2006.

Modules covered:

FLS 08 - INTRODUCTION TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

FLS 10 - BOOKKEEPING FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

00 - HISTORY

FLS 21 - TRAVEL GEOGRAPHY

HLS 23 - VIASINC

HLS 29 - ANIMATION FOR TRAVEL AGENTS

TLS 07B - TRAVEL AGENCY SKILLS

PDF 01 - PERSONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT

LLF/LLG/LLI/LLS - LANGAUGE OPTION

FLS 01 - BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

TLS 07A - TRAVEL AGENCY FUNCTION AND ROLE

TLS 07D - TECHNICAL ENGLISH

TLS 07E - TRAVEL AGENCY PRACTICAL

FLS 29 - SUPERVISORY SKILLS IN TRAVEL AGENCY

HLS 25 - GUEST LECTURES

TLS 08A - INCOMING OPS

HLS 15 - ACCOUNTING FOR THE HOSPITALITY, TOURISM AND LEISURE INDUSTRY

00 - E-COMMERCE

HLS 13 - PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING

HLS 22 - STAGING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

HLS 27 - HUMAN RESOURCES FOR TRAVEL INDUSTRY

HLS 28 - APPLIED WEB TECHNOLOGIES

HSI 02 - FIRST AID

Apart from the above modules the students have to attend a number of tutorial sessions in a year and successfully complete their LITP programme.

Tutorial Sessions:

Throughout the academic year the students will be asked to attend a number of set tutorials arranged with their assigned tutor.

During these tutorials the student will receive:

• Career guidance
• Feedback on academic performance
• Support in case of poor performance
• Guidance and support in social and personal development
• Comments on absenteeism

To obtain the credit value students need to attend their compulsory tutorial sessions. Students are also welcome to attend further tutorial sessions should they feel it is necessary.

Local Industrial Trade Practice (LITP):

Full-time students will be required to undertake compulsory 14-week Local Industrial Trade Practice (during the summer months) in establishments assigned to them by the Institute of Tourism Studies.

Conditions of employment and remuneration payable to students during the LITP will be in accordance with local current employment regulations.

The satisfactory completion of the LITP is a requirement for the award of the Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management programme of studies.

The students may find their own LITP placement, provided that the Institute approves such arrangement.

Progression

Students who pass in all subjects with an overall mark of 65% at Certificate Level and who successfully complete the LITP programme can then apply for the Diploma in Travel Agency Operations programme of studies.