Employer Programme for Hospitality and Tourism Erasmus Project

Project Title

Employer Programme for Hospitality and Tourism

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context/background of the project:
Based on practical, empirical and theoretical knowledge of relationships between higher educational institutions (HEIs) and the hospitality and tourism industry (H&T industry), all indications underpinned an imminent need for an up-to-date, modern, effective and efficient system of strategic partnership and systematic cooperation. This partnership should produce highly employable graduates armed with the relevant knowledge, skills and competencies needed by the vibrant and people-oriented H&T industry. Literature cited and experiences underlined that gaps existed in cooperation between HEIs and the H&T industry. Piecemeal, haphazard cooperation was promoted, traditionally focusing in industrial placements. It was crucial to investigate modern needs and ways of cooperation and benefit from best practices in employer engagement and partnership, in order for all parties to benefit in various ways.

Objectives:
The EPHT programme aimed to deliver the following:
Undertake research of stakeholder needs on a national and European level in order to unveil the needs and develop specifications for the development of the system.
Undertake research on available best practices in Europe and internationally in order to utilise them in the design of the employer programme.
Design a systematic methodology for the development, installation and monitoring of a successful employer programme. This methodology is presented in this operational manual and is pilot tested within the framework of the project.
Design and develop an electronic platform as a tool to facilitate the above-mentioned methodology.
Develop a best practices guide presenting best practices identified in Europe and the rest of the world as well as the best practices developed through the project.

Number and profile of participating organisations:

The joint programme included 7 organisations, from 5 European countries

1.Higher Hotel Institute Cyprus: With a history dating back to 1965, the Higher Hotel Institute, Cyprus (HHIC) is a public institute of tertiary education traditionally supplying the hospitality and tourism industry with qualified and specialised personnel.
2.Technological Educational Institution of Crete (Greece): TEI Crete is a Public Educational Institution. It is part of the Hellenic Tertiary Education since 1983 and one of the 40 Higher Education establishments as of 2011.
3.Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland): Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) offers Bachelor and Master level studies for 10 000 students in six fields of study. TAMK is an internationally oriented multidisciplinary higher education institution and is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Finland.
4.GRUPPO4 (Italy): Gruppo 4 was founded in 1997 with the aim of offering companies high profile IT services.
A point of strength is that since its very beginning it has been bringing together various professionals with a solid knowledge in advanced specialised sectors.
5.Cyprus Hotel Association (Cyprus): The Cyprus Hotel Association is the Hoteliers National Trade Union. The history of its foundation goes back to the beginning of the 1930s. Today the vast majority of all hotel establishments and other licensed tourist accommodation units comprise its members.
6.M.M.C. Management Center Limited Cyprus: It was founded in 2002 and provides training courses for Adult Learning and for VET.
7.DOCUMENTA (Spain: is a non-profit organisation working in the field of “applied social research”, whose main aim is the introduction of a model of sustainable local development.

Description of undertaken main activities:
Intellectual Output – IO
IO1: Needs Analysis conducted by all the HEIs of the consortium. Their combined input constituted the European Needs Analysis. T
IO2: Best Practices Guide accumulated different best practices available in Europe and internationally (Part A) as well as best practices resulting from the project (Part B).
IO3: Recommendations Report compiled from IO1 and IO2 (A) in order to lead to the composition of the Operational Manual
IO4: Operational Manual explained how the system would work in practice
IO5: Online Platform was created to facilitate the project
Dissemination
Quality Assurance

Results and impact attained:
Has shed light on the needs and challenges to be addressed
Profiting from best practices
Systemic, holistic, innovative approach to collaboration and partnership in H&T
Motivating stakeholder involvement in common educational/research activities
Platform development with educational focus
Better communication, understanding and trust cultivated

Longer-term benefits:
Creating a new culture of strategic partnership in H&T
Effective educational programmes and research applied
High quality graduates employed, youth unemployment reduced
Resolving industry problems through high level research
Boosting European and world economies through high quality tourism

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 228500,31 Eur

Project Coordinator

HIGHER HOTEL INSTITUTE CYPRUS (HHIC) & Country: CY

Project Partners

• PAGKYPRIOS SYNDESMOS XENODOXWN
• TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CRETE
• TAMPEREEN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY
• GRUPPO 4 SRL
• M.M.C MANAGEMENT CENTER LIMITED
• ASOCIACION INSTITUTO EUROPEO DE ESTUDIOS PARA LA FORMACION Y EL DESARROLLO