The Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) on Tuesday (today) countered claims made by renowned Chef Victor Borg on the number of youths opting for a culinary career in the local hospitality industry.

This comes after Mr Borg, Executive Chef at MICHELIN-star restaurant Under Grain (Valletta) and MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant Grain Street (Valletta), recently pointed out in an interview on the Jon Mallia Podcast that there is a lack of youths choosing a career in the culinary industry. He said that this is due to a range of reasons, including the commitment required and long working hours. Tied to the former, he also stated that ITS is “not producing” enough chefs, possibly because in order to become a chef, students need to be committed enough to “follow a course for around five years, and so they have to study for as long as a lawyer.”

In a statement, ITS noted that there were a number of “inaccuracies” in what Mr Borg, an ITS alumnus himself, said during the interview.

ITS affirmed that the claim that becoming a chef requires five years of study is “incorrect.” “The course Mr Borg completed in the 1990s is still offered, with a duration of two years plus an additional year abroad. The curriculum is continually updated to reflect industry trends, however the length remains the same,” it continued.

Under Grain Executive Chef Victor Borg / Grain

Mr Borg completed a two-year Food and Beverage Diploma course at ITS in the 1990s when he was still starting his career. Over the years he also gained experiences abroad, including at an established hotel in Switzerland.

ITS stated that the courses on offer have “multiple exit points,” thus enabling students to enter the workforce after the first year if they choose to do so. It affirmed that students who opt to pursue an MQF Level 6 Bachelor’s degree would therefore require additional years of study, “the standard duration for higher education institutions throughout Europe.”

ITS also remarked that the number of students enrolling at ITS has “remained stable over the past years.” In a diagram attached to the statement, ITS indicated that that total enrolments since 2018-19 have hovered between the 600 and 900-enrolment mark, with enrolments in the culinary arts section specifically remaining consistent at around 250.

The diagram displaying the number of students at ITS from 2018-19 to 2023-24

During the interview, Mr Borg, who recently also featured as a judge on culinary TV show MasterChef Malta, said that many student chefs give up halfway through their studies, losing heart because of the length of ITS courses.

The institute noted that its dropout rate is “only 14 per cent,” which it deemed a “low percentage in higher education.” It also affirmed that graduates over the past five years have increased.

Another notable point that Mr Borg raised was that following the publication of the MICHELIN Guide Malta 2024, the country now has a restaurant with two MICHELIN stars, together with six others who have a MICHELIN star.

Despite this, he claimed that “nobody over the past five years since the guide for Malta started, has ever invited the chefs of one of these restaurants to deliver a speech to students to inspire them,” contrary to what is done abroad.

ITS said that this statement was “unfounded,” with the institute claiming that since 2016 – aside from the two years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – it has “organised numerous industry meet-up days,” where chefs and industry professionals from different fields would be able to engage with students.

“We not only provide opportunities on campus, but also take our students to various places such as hotels and restaurants to meet industry professionals in their workplaces. Additionally, throughout the years, ITS has organised several master classes with top international chefs and pastry chefs. These chefs offer free sessions and talks to all our students, ensuring they benefit from their expertise,” ITS added. It said that other events, open to everyone including alumni, have been held, allowing people to meet current students, academic and administrative staff.

“ITS’s doors remain open to everyone,” it continued.

ITS also clarified that a number of its graduates now hold leadership positions in hotels and restaurants both in Malta and abroad.