Diversity training in tourism Erasmus Project

Project Title

Diversity training in 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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context:
There is a great need of raising understanding and acceptance of cultural differences within the tourist industry. The project captures two important diversity angles: diversity within the working force and diversity in client service. These angles are seen as interconnected as they are based on the same “solution”: basic understanding and acceptance of differences, in its various forms. This project is entitled to promote cultural awareness, inter-cultural dialogue and acceptance between staff members as well as in service to clients.

Objectives:
The primary objective of the project is to create, test and implement an on-line curriculum about diversity, that covers inter cultural communication, non-discriminatory practices, equality, human rights and tolerance for differences in the tourist industry, and that could be adapted to other sectors and locations in Europe, and worldwide. The ideology behind the trainings are bases on theories within sociology and social-anthropology, which are intersected with vocational trainings methods, in particular, training that goes on in the job itself and that uses ICT methods. The proposed on-line curriculum promotes development of skills and competences in relation to social, cultural, ethnic, religious, gender, LGBTIQ, and other forms of diversity, by supporting participants in acquiring and developing skills in relation to human rights, equality (including gender equality), social inclusion, by the means of “work-based learning through innovative training”, that will be up-to-date on the work-based learning practices. This project demonstrates social accountability of those who implement the training in on-the-job context.

Partners:
There are five partners from four different countries. From Iceland is Reykjavik Excursion, a leading organiser of coach and bus tours in Iceland, and the leading organisation for this project. Mundialis, also from Iceland, is a small social enterprise. Extreme Ireland is a coach and bus tour organizer in Dublin, Ireland, Spiritusmundi, a Swedish nongovernmental organization and Simon Papet (Conseil) a small, consulting firm based in Paris, France.

Descriptions of activities:
The main activities are around the development of the on-line training and its platform for employees within the tourist industry. There will be mapping and preparation, designing and development of the course/training. A handbook for trainers will be developed, and both the training and the handbook will be tested in a pilot course/training. A technologically advanced on-line platform for the trainings will be designed and developed, as well as clear instructions on how to use it. There will be academic publications based on the project impact and two seminars within the tourism firms on diversity trainings.

Methodology:
The work will be conducted through research, mapping and by surveying present situation in the partner countries in accordance with best practices in research methodology of social sciences. The results will be tested through pilot courses that may serve as models for future use of the guidelines and recommendations.

Long term impact:
It is envisaged that the research undertaken, the resulting guidelines and recommendations will be disseminated widely and that the material will be of use in future activities in a long-term perspective. The on-line training platform will be kept updated and interactive.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 185715,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

Reykjavik Excursions & Country: IS

Project Partners

• Simon Papet
• Extreme Event Ireland Ltd
• Mundialis