Signatories from TAR University College and MATTA exchanging signed MOUs (from left to right): Ms Kho Sok Kee, Vice President, TAR University College, Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, Datuk Hj. Hamzah Rahmat and Datuk Tan Kok Liang, Vice President – Inbound, MATTA.
Officials from TAR University College and MATTA in a group photo (from left to right): Assoc Prof Say Sok Kwan, Dean, Faculty of Accountancy, Finance and Business, Ms Dearna Kee June Chen, Dean, Faculty of Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Mr Chan Kum Wing, Vice President, TAR University College, Ms Kho Sook Kee, Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, Datuk Hj. Hamzah Rahmat, Datuk Tan Kok Liang, Mr Nigel Wong Chun Teim, Honorary Secretary General, MATTA, Mr Phua Tai Neng, CEO, MATTA, Mr Lee Fook Koon and Mr Kenneth Yong Voon Ken, Authors of 'GST Navigator for Travel Industry' manual and TAR University College alumni.
Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, President, TAR University College was elated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ('MOU') between TAR University College and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents ('MATTA'). The signing ceremony took place on 2 December 2015 at the Auditorium, Bangunan Tun Tan Siew Sin in Kuala Lumpur Main Campus.
Datuk Hj. Hamzah Rahmat, President, MATTA said at the signing ceremony:" The MOU represents a concrete step taken by both education and industry to better prepare undergraduates to be more industry relevant without sacrificing academic studies and intellectual pursuits".
"We recognise that institutes of higher learning are not vocational training centres, and most undergraduates are more interested in obtaining a diploma or a degree than have a specific career in mind".
"As such, intakes for job-specific programmes catering for the travel industry would be low, whether they are offered by tourism training institutes, colleges or universities".
"The collaboration would facilitate industry experts to engage with both the academia and students on current issues and challenges taking place in the business-side of the travel industry, and the human resources and solutions needed to overcome them".
"Whenever possible, elements of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) would be injected into academic learning without compromising the requirements of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)".
"It is hoped that commonly used terminologies such as tourism, travel and hospitality can be streamlined in the future. For example, tourism encompasses hospitality industries such as accommodation, food and beverage; apart from travel agencies, event management companies, theme park and transport operators, and many more".
"Tourism is too wide to study for a profession. Therefore, students must choose a particular field to specialise in order to secure a job and excel in their career. Those who think they can work in any job in tourism after obtaining their degrees may discover too late that they have not been trained for any job".
"As such, the vast majority of tourism graduates do not work in the tourism industry and our members are faced with staff shortage. We are optimistic that this collaboration will bring great benefits to students pursuing tourism programmes and MATTA members in need of right talents to boost their business".
Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok added further:" Via this collaboration, our Faculty of Social Science, Arts and Humanities ('FSAH') will be working closely with MATTA in terms of developing the necessary skillsets and knowledge among the students of the Hospitality and Tourism Management programmes. This includes incorporating feedback and input as well as industry knowledge and latest industry trend from MATTA into the relevant syllabi of Hospitality and Tourism Management programmes to ensure the contents of the programmes remain relevant to the industry".
"In addition, the collaboration will also make provision for internship for suitable TAR University College students with MATTA members and training opportunities to participate in selected MATTA events such as MICE which stands for Meeting, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions. The industry exposure will enable TAR University College students to cultivate the necessary knowledge and skills in order for them to hit the ground running when they actually go out into the workforce".
