JITOA, USAID/JTDPII and HU sign a Memorandum for a joint internship program

The agreement was signed under the patronage of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, H.E. Mrs. Maha Al Khatib.

The purpose of the agreement is to implement a joint internship program in tourism management for students of the Queen Rania Institute of Tourism and Heritage (QRITH). The program is being launched today at the Hashemite University campus.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Kareem Al Hashem, MoTA Assistant Secretary-General for the Administrative Affairs, on behalf of H.E Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and was signed between H.E. Dr. Sulaiman Arabiat, the President of The HU, Mr. Steve Gonyea, USAID Director, Economic Growth Office, and Mr. Ayham Fakhreldin, JITOA Chairman and Board of Directors.

JITOA and the JTDPII initiated this program to address the human resource needs of the tourism sector in Jordan, which is facing serious challenges in connecting between tourism enterprises and educational institutes responsible for tourism training and education and finding the qualified caliber to meet the expectations of tourism employers. Also, the hospitality sector will generate around 25,000 job opportunities within the next four years and there is a need to ensure that this demand can be addressed.

"This internship program is critical as it is important for students to embrace careers rather than jobs. This experience will be a big first step toward their career goals. This program also provides the tourism sector with the opportunity to become more involved in study programs and curricula for university graduates,"

said Mr. Gonyea.

The USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project II supported the design of the internship program, which includes training and explanatory guides for the interns, as well as providing technical support for selection process to choose the first ten interns.

JITOA members recognize the necessity to start a pilot training program, in which a selected group of students will be provided with basic skills and knowledge needed by tourism enterprises, in the areas of communication, language skills, and customer service, among others. The program will begin with a pilot project targeting ten students who will undergo a four-month internship program at travel agencies and tour operators. The number of internships will then be increased at HU and the program will later be replicated across other universities in Jordan to eventually reach hundreds of students.

H.E Dr. Sulaiman Arabiat, expressed his happiness and gratitude to JITOA for inaugurating such important opportunity to the institute students, an because of the important role this program will offer , which provides them field experience concerning the major of their studies, he said, "The HU march towards the future in the King's Abdullah royal vision, along with the student's courage, and their the wisdom of their teachers."

JITOA Chairman, said, "The MoU with JITOA & USAID holds great potential to boost the employment prospects of the graduates within the tourism sector. We look forward to the substantial mutual benefits that this agreement will provide."

He added, "I advise the students to take the best out of this program, as it is the best time for them to explore their skills and practice their knowledge and language in real experience."

He also remarked that JITOA team is ready to provide any needed consultation to the students in terms of rehabilitating of their skills and building capacity towards a successful future career.

JITOA, HU/QRITH and JTDPII have organized the pilot internship program to give students the opportunity to gain much needed practical experience and offer them the chance to apply their theoretical knowledge and learn new practical business skills. The training and skills to be acquired include: operations, logistics, developing itineraries, research, lodging, marketing and administrative duties, including professionally answering phones, writing and sending faxes, among other duties.

These efforts come in support of JITOA's ongoing commitment to improve the tourism human resources capacity and provide development assistant to the Tourism sector in Jordan.