The Guest Experience Project Erasmus Project

Project Title

The Guest Experience Project

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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal)

Project Summary

This project main objectives was the following:

– To create two accredited courses for low skilled and low qualified individuals interested in obtaining post-secondary qualifications in the hospitality industry

– To create one Pre-Accession Course for individuals lacking basic literacy skills to progress towards higher qualifications

– To increase the demand and take-up through the creation of an online learning platform.

The main target of the project were the following:

– To target those individuals who are already in the industry but would like to upskill and enhance their knowledge;
– To target those individuals who were currently unemployed but would like to enter the tourism and hospitality industry.

This project proposed the transnational collaboration of ITS, TCTC and MHRA from Malta with the Institut Paul Bocuse from France and the Haaga Helia Institute of Applied Sciences in Finland, towards a common aim, that is: To increase demand and provide equal opportunities for the attainment of post-secondary qualifications in the hospitality industry, to low skilled and disadvantaged individuals. This project envisages an opportunity for the partnering organisations to exchange best practices, knowledge and information, aimed at the creation of training modules in order increase demand by facilitating the acquisition of post-secondary qualifications by low-skilled individuals coming from difficult backgrounds, who seek to create or to further their career in the hospitality industry.

This project was successful in achieving the below aspects (intellectual outputs):

– Pre-Accession course which was a course specifically aimed at those low skilled individuals who want to pursue a career in the hospitality industry but lack the necessary secondary education level. A total of 65 people completed the course.

-The Guest Experience Introduction Award. This Award which was accredited by ITS where the main objective of this course was to provide 4 units covering basic knowledge on the functionality of the tourism and hospitality industry. Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 pandemic several participants opted to do just one or two units (mentally affected and lost interest in doing the units). Even though this happened, there still 185 participants who completed one or more of the units but not all of the 4. In order to try tackle this, ITS asked for an extension of the project (which was granted) and together with TCTC embarked on a marketing campaign to promote the Guest Experience Introduction Award. A total of 123 people fully completed the course.

– The Guest Experience Specialised Groups objective was to provide participants with an the opportunity of an on-site training. Unfortunately this intellectual output was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic due to the fact that some of the participants did not want to be present and interact with other people (due to the fear of Dovid-19) and also some participants were already working in the industry and hence could not attend to the onsite training. This was communicated with the agency and was approved on the basis that the participants who are already working in the sector are receiving the same training.

– The Online Learning Platform where it features all the above courses on the platform itself. This intellectual output was envisaged to contribute to those low-skilled workers interested in pursuing/furthering a career in the hospitality industry but due to their difficult background are unable to physically attend such courses and gain accreditation. This online learning platform was very crucial when the pandemic broke as the courses had to be all conducted online.

This project, particularly the Guest Experience Introduction Award was a concept which as ITS management together with the other partners realised that it could be beneficial that it is
offered to the public after the projects end date. Hence, in the near future this introductory award will be made available to the local public and will also be accredited.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 151954 Eur

Project Coordinator

INSTITUTE OF TOURISM STUDIES & Country: MT

Project Partners

• INSTITUT PAUL BOCUSE ECOLE DE MANAGEMENT
• Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association
• The Computer Training Course Limited (TCTC)
• HAAGA-HELIA AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY