MALAYSIAN scholarship students will receive on-the-job training with New Zealand adventure tourism operators, as part of a new education partnership between Malaysia and New Zealand to develop the island of Langkawi into Malaysia’s adventure tourism centre.
Malaysia turned south to New Zealand and its global reputation for adventure tourism to build Malaysia’s adventure tourism workforce.
In a significant step for the tourism industry, Kolej Yaysan Saad (KYS) has partnered with Queenstown Resort College (QRC), based in New Zealand’s famous adventure tourism capital, to offer QRC’s adventure tourism management diploma for Malaysian students.
The first 22 students to undertake the 21-month course are recipients of scholarships from the Malaysian government, while a large part of their education will involve a nine-month internship with adventure tourism operators in Queenstown, New Zealand.
The first batch of students started the diploma in early January after undertaking a six-month English language course as all courses will initially be delivered in English by QRC staff.
Queenstown Resort College chief executive Charlie Phillips said he has been highly impressed during all of his dealings with KYS and understands their clear intention to help develop the workforce necessary to grow the adventure tourism industry.
“After our initial meetings the common intent was pretty firm and we looked to establish our programme in Malaysia. Late last year we gained the ability from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to do offshore delivery,” Phillips said.
“The key outcome for these students is to go and work in the industry or be entrepreneurs and set up their own adventure tourism businesses. There are a few (adventure tourism) activities in Malaysia now but there’s certainly a lot of potential.”
Following its expansion into Malaysia, Phillips said QRC will look to duplicate its KYS partnership in other markets, specifically targeting Japan and China in the near future.
For more information on the Adventure Tourism Management diploma, go to www.queenstownresortcollege.com.
Information on study options in New Zealand can be found at www.studyinnewzealand.com.