KUALA LUMPUR : About 800 students will benefit directly and indirectly from a collaboration between MATTA and TAR University College that aims to give an industrial edge to the undergraduates.
The national tour and travel association and the institution signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at TAR University College campus here yesterday as a concrete step by both industry players and academia to better prepare undergraduates for the job market.
MATTA president Datuk Hamzah Rahmat said the collaboration, the first of its kind, would help improve the curriculum at the university college.
Elements of technical, vocational education and training (TVET) would be injected into academic learning at TAR without compromising requirements of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
"Most of the time, the students are from the hospitality programme and only serve the hotel industry.
"Another part of the curriculum is tourism studies, which has been overlooked," he said.
A job-specific curriculum also cuts time for on-the-job training.
"This will help raise the graduates' starting salary," Hamzah said.
Other benefits from the MoU would be internship placements for undergraduates with MATTA members who are industry players.
Hamzah said the placements were important as the travel industry was experiencing an acute shortage of trained staff.
"I have a travel company which told me it is ready to hire seven people and couldn't wait for the undergraduates to finish school," he said.
TAR University College president Datuk Dr Tan Chin Heok said the collaboration was timely as TAR recently introduced diploma and degree programmes in tourism.
The university college also offers diploma and degree programmes in hospitality management.