Jamia Millia offers lessons in tourism

For those who want to cash in on the booming tourism industry, here’s something to watch out for. A new department at Jamia Millia Islamia — an 89-year-old central university in the Capital — will offer seven new courses, including graduate and post-graduate courses in hospitality and tourism with focus on heritage.

For those who want to cash in on the booming tourism industry, here’s something to watch out for. A new department at Jamia Millia Islamia — an 89-year-old central university in the Capital — will offer seven new courses, including graduate and post-graduate courses in hospitality and tourism with focus on heritage.

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“While most courses on tourism are about logistics and numbers, our course will focus on heritage, which is a different approach to this kind of training,” said Rakshanda Jalil, director, media and culture.

Admission to the seven new courses is expected to begin this year. Teaching will initially start with guest faculty.

The new department takes the total count of departments at Jamia to 39.

“The tourism ministry has given us a grant of Rs 2 crore for setting up the department, which will function from the Zakir Husain library,” added Jalil. “The ministry will also extend help to train students.”

Of Rs 2 crore, Rs 50 lakh will be spent on rennovating the existing building. Rs 1.5 crore has been set aside for equipment, books, furniture and fixtures.

The university is yet to decide on the number of seats for each course, the actual strength of faculty and the exact date for kickstarting admissions.

“The student pursuing a course offered by this department will have an edge over others as he or she will also know the history and culture of the places studied,” said Jalil.

“The academic orientation of the courses will also give a student the opportunity to go into teaching.”