Tourism training the trainers Erasmus Project

Project Title

Tourism training the trainers

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Open and distance learning; Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

• Context:
Tourism is one of the fastest growing and most profitable industrial sector in Europe and accounts for consistently larger share of GDP. Despite great expectations of continuing growth of the tourist sector as a base for economic stability, there is a lack of recognition concerning skills of employees. This project was set up to improve the qualifications of unskilled persons in the tourist sector by creating a strong and comprehensive learning model for vocational instructors (training of trainers) who can provide fellow employees with education and training considering the special requirements of the target group. A GAP analysis clearly indicated that the need for this type of VET education is similar in all participating countries – from Sicily in the south to Iceland and Finland in the north.

• Objectives:
The primary objective of the project was to create, test and implement a learning model/curriculum, to meet the requirements of the specific situations in each partner country and which could be adopted in other European countries. This model used was based on a well-proven methodology for training on-the-job-trainers in retail, services and other industrial sectors. The model developed was adjusted to requirement analysis made in all partner countries. Our opinion is that we succeeded very well with the objectives of the project.

• Participants:
The consortium comprised of five partners: Two from Iceland (one of which was the project coordinator and the other is federation of tourist enterprises) and one from each of the following countries: Austria (Vienna), Finland (Kajaanin) and Italy (Sicily). All partners hold a key position in their home regions in vocational education development. All partner has close links to the tourist industry in the home region which was important to secure involvement of local enterprises where the learning model was tested in real circumstances. The partnership ensured that the final model took into consideration the variations in tourism in the different areas and different vocational school systems in each partner country.

• Activities
The first step was to revise a proven learning model, designed for training of vocational instructors, by the name of Stepping-stones and had been implemented in other industrial sector, i.e. the retail sector. Parallel to this review a GAP analyses in all partner countries was performed whereby the outcome was be compared. The GAP analysis together with the revised learning model was the base of drafting a curriculum, which was then tested in a pilot training in all partner countries. The pilot training was assessed, and results used for improving the final learning model. The model was presented to stakeholders and finally implemented by trainers in their respective organizations. Dissemination activities were carried out during all project time by promoting the idea behind the TTRAIN model and the learning portal.

• Methodology
A set of methodologies were applied in order to achieve the goal of the project, to implement a tailor-made learning model for vocational instructors in the tourism sector. The basic model which was applied is a combination of several modules where the main subjects concentrates on the demand of adult students, enhancing self-confident and encouragement of creative thinking together with practical solutions in the working environment.

• Results
The result is a detailed curriculum plan including content, number of learning hours and practical guidance for the vocational instructors. The result was published in an open web portal. Other main outputs are the summary results from the GAP analyse and a summary report on the outcome of the pilot test courses.

• Impact
The main impact of the project is the contribution to increase the quality of vocational training of tourist company employees, which leads to enhancing the quality of services provided to tourists and raise the quality of the companies involved. Moreover the project leads to better qualified employees with grater motivation to further build on to the education and become more valuable employees.
Another impact is on the educational providers, especially those involved in adult education.

• Long term benefits
The TTRAIN project contributes to strengthen the image of the participating companies and increase their competitiveness with more qualified personnel and happier customers. A long-term impact is expected to be improve vocational education and training for tourist companies’ employees in Europe. This goal also secures the sustainability of the result. Another long-term impact is the contribution to the national economy by supporting the growing tourist industry.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 239463 Eur

Project Coordinator

HASKOLINN A BIFROST SES & Country: IS

Project Partners

• BEST INSTITUT FUR BERUFSBEZOGENE WEITERBILDUNG UND PERSONALTRAINING GMBH
• KAJAANIN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY
• CESIE
• SAMTÖK FERÐAÞJÓNUSTUNNAR