By Caning Jaramillo
As the new semester begins, the Department of Asian and European Languages at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya (UM), welcomed Mr. Gabriele Di Terlizzi, MICE & Groups Head of Department at Lotus Asia Tours (LAT Group), for a special Elite Class with final-year students from the Spanish and Italian Studies programmes.
With more than three decades of experience in Southeast Asia’s tourism industry, LAT Group has established itself as a leading regional tourism enterprise. Since 1991, the company has provided travel services and destination management support to visitors from around the world, making it an ideal industry partner for students interested in tourism, languages, and intercultural communication.
As an Elite Fellow, Mr. Di Terlizzi delivered a lecture for the Marketing and Tourism course, offering students practical insights into the operations of the tourism sector and the realities of working in one of the world’s most dynamic service industries. His presentation provided students with a valuable opportunity to connect classroom learning with professional practice while gaining a deeper understanding of tourism operations in Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian region.
The visit extended beyond academic knowledge-sharing. Discussions also focused on potential avenues for collaboration between LAT Group and Universiti Malaya, particularly in relation to internships, industrial placements, and future professional development opportunities for students. Such initiatives are especially relevant given LAT Group’s international clientele, primarily from Europe, and its multilingual operations, which provide services in Italian, Spanish, English, Bahasa Melayu, Indonesian and Thai around the clock.
Mr. Di Terlizzi’s participation was made possible through the collaboration and support of Mr. Andrea Paduano, Coordinator of the Italian Studies Programme, whose efforts helped facilitate this meaningful engagement between academia and industry.
According to Lic. Caning Jaramillo, Coordinator of the Spanish Internship Programme and lecturer for the Spanish for Communication and Tourism module, students of Spanish and Italian Studies continue to benefit from a growing network of international partnerships developed by the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics. These collaborations include close engagement with nine Latin American and Spanish embassies in Kuala Lumpur, as well as the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia.
Jaramillo further highlighted that, during the current semester, students will have the opportunity to attend lectures by Mr. Carlos Javier Castillo, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Peru in Malaysia, who will participate as an Elite Fellow Lecturer. His sessions will focus on conflict resolution and diplomatic practice, providing students with additional exposure to professional fields where language expertise plays a critical role.
Through bilateral Memoranda of Understanding and institutional agreements established by the University and Faculty, UM students are encouraged not only to develop proficiency in Spanish and Italian languages and cultures but also to engage with international professional environments. These initiatives strengthen students’ global outlook and contribute to their preparation for future careers in a variety of international sectors.
The visit by Mr. Gabriele Di Terlizzi reflects Universiti Malaya’s continued commitment to connecting academic learning with industry practice. By fostering collaboration with tourism professionals, diplomatic missions, and international partners, the University continues to create valuable pathways for students to develop professional competencies, intercultural awareness, and career-ready skills in an increasingly globalised world.
The author is the Spanish Industrial Coordinator and Spanish Language Instructor at the Department of Asian and European Languages, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya.
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