UN Recognizes Centennial’s Culture and Heritage Institute

Centennial’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture, along with its Culture and Heritage Institute, have become affiliate members of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Membership has its privileges: the UNWTO will promote both the school and the Institute internationally, recognizing Centennial as a knowledgeable educator of new talent sought by the global tourism industry. Another benefit of the affiliation is access to a global e-library that Centennial professors and administrators can use to retrieve documents and information related to tourism and culture. Students will have modified access to the same library resources.

The true value of the UNWTO membership lies in the next step, which is obtaining TedQual certification of Centennial’s programs. The TedQual Certification System contributes to the quality and efficacy of tourism education training and research by adopting a methodology and voluntary standards to more clearly define tourism education.

UNTWO recognizes the current shortage of human resources prepared to meet the challenges of dynamic tourism markets has led to the proliferation of specialized courses in different areas of tourism offered at various academic levels and given by a variety of institutions and organizations. TedQual was established to help bring quality standards to a shifting education landscape.

Centennial has applied for accreditation of six of its hospitality and tourism-related programs under the TedQual Certification System. The quality audit by UNWTO evaluators will begin soon. Centennial professors are excited by this development, as it will give the college’s programs true global recognition – and will look good on anyone’s résumé.