Futouristic : Issue 8 : August 2024

Abstract

The eighth issue of Futouristic presents another smorgasbord of research articles, studies, abstracts and news that attest the committment of the Institute to present the best in hospitality, culinary, tour guiding and sustainability research that is the backbone of ITS courses from Diploma to Masters’ level. The selection of writings found in this edition demonstrate the wide variety of research being performed at the Institute; a testimony to the culture that is being developed on its way to becoming a vocational university. In this issue, senior lecturer, Charlotte Geronomi writes about the importance and problems of continuous assessment, and the reasons why it provides a more rounded education for the students, while senior lecturer, David Pace, who lectures on Food Science subjects critiques the labelling and marketing of food products from the point of view of a person suffering from a nut allergy. This has important ramifications as many culinary outlets are becoming increasingly aware of allergies and food intolerances of their patrons. Higher National Diploma student Martina Galea examines the value and feasibility of local valleys as a rural tourism products and interviewed several officials who provided a wealth of data on how valley areas can be improved in a sustainable manner and marketed as tourist attractions. A mainstay of the academic year is the Academic Excellent Symposium that aims to highlight the best students’ research projects. This year it was organised on the 15th March by Academic Manager, Ruth Azzopardi and Tour Guide Coordinator, Tara Darmanin, and highlighted a variety of final research projects in the Tour Guiding and the Masters of Heritage Interpretation courses. This year, thesis and long essays were extremely varied and included historical, cultural, military, feminist and entrepreneurial research and provided an interesting morning of presentations that showcased the Institute’s best work. Tour guiding student Joanne Vella takes us on an informative journey regarding the origin, evolution and craftsmanship of the so-called L-Arloġġ tal-Lira and attempts to demonstrate it’s importance as one of the more beautiful examples of local heritage. Nigel Grech, another tour guiding student presented a strategic and tactical analysis of the weapons used by attacking and defending forces during World War Two entitled “Military weapons deployed in Malta during the Second World War”. It turned out to be a fascinating project with a unique perspective that displays the wide variety of research taking place at the Institute. The same goes for Giacomo Muscat’s entertaining project called “Medieval Mayhem in Mdina during the 15th century Malta” where as part of his tour guiding project, suggested enacting life during that era, focusing on the drama and power struggles between the noble families living at that time that were easily as complex and convoluted as those presented in the popular fantasy series, Game of Thrones. Feminism was touched upon in two final tour guiding project, one entitled “Exploring the importance of fisheries in Marsaxlokk” by Althea Mifsud and another by Roberta Mifsud called “Linking real-life female dramas in Early Modern Birgu to costumed enactments”. Turning to the Masters in Heritage Interpretation students, the second cohort of students successfully graduated this year and presented their interesting thesis. Mr. Paul Spiteri analysed five industrial heritage company sites and interpreted their value and significance in terms of post-industrial heritage to determine what could be adapted and work as visitor centres. He also delved into the ways company tours are executed and interpreted, and can be made more accessible and engaging via innovative approaches to digitalisation and through company websites. Hiking and trekking in Siġġiewi was the subject of a research project by Karl Aquilina who analysed “The Holistic Potential of Siġġiewi and its environs from an Environmental and Cultural perspective as a hiking tourist destination” and provided data regarding a trekking tour that highlights the cultural and natural attractions of the town of Siġġiewi. Stevie Sammut, an International Hospitality Management student presents a fascinating examination of the local wine industry in the thesis “Persuading Maltese Wine Consumers to Purchase and Consume Local Wines Particularly within Maltese Fine Dining Restaurants” and attempts to answer two important questions regarding consumer preferences, the consumption of local Maltese wines and the role of sommeliers in the promotion of such wines. One of the most important achievements of the Institute was the extension of scope that was granted by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority after many years of fulfilling academic obligations and rigorous quality assurance exercises. The full ramifications of this extension can be found in an interview with ITS CEO Profs. Glen Farruġia. Last but not least, well done to all the Kulinarja 2014 participants and winners who made ITS proud!