Bethlehem University – Graduation Ceremony of the First Tourism Vocational Training Program
Wednesday, 1 June 2016, Bethlehem University held the Graduation Ceremony of the First Tourism Vocational Training. A large number of representatives from the tourism sector, supporting institutions, and from the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities were present, as well as the families and friends of the 90 graduating students.
The ceremony was held at the Bethlehem University Auditorium under the sponsorship of the Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Her Excellency, Rula Ma’ayaah. Dr. Michael Sansur, Executive Vice President, then gave the welcome speech in which he congratulated the graduates and their families. In addition, he thanked the World Bank, PADICO HOLDING, USAID/Compete and the Palestinian Market Development Program (PMDP) for their support of the program; which came into existence as a response to the needs of the Palestinian based on research by the Bethlehem University Institute of Tourism Training (BUITT), The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Palestinian Tourism Sector.
Prior to distributing the certificates, a short film was screened in which students from the Tourism Vocational Training Program shared their experiences and reflected on the knowledge and skills they came to learn from their time in the program.
Mr. Ahmad Awedet then presented the results of the Research Findings Dissemination: HTS mapping and Job Analysis Study, which tackled the necessary steps to take to fill in the gaps within the tourism industry and further decrease unemployment.
The courses offered within the program are only possible due to the collaboration among the various institutes at Bethlehem University, specifically, the Institute for Hotel Management and Tourism (IHMT), the Institute of Tourism Training (BUITT), and the Institute for Community Partnership (ICP).
A reception, which was organized by students from the Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism, was then held in honor of the graduates.
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