Innovative Cooperation Business-HEI Learning Model for Tourism

The INCOME Tourism aims at developing a new learning approach based on a cooperative learning process joining Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and tourism businesses applied to soft skills learning to be incorporated in the last year of the Tourism Bachelor.

INCOME

INNOVATIVE COOPERATION BUSINESS-HEI LEARNING MODEL FOR TOURISM

Project Description

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Our project aims at developing a new learning approach based on a cooperative learning process joining Higher Education Institutions and tourism businesses applied to soft skills learning to be incorporated in the last year of the Tourism Bachelor. Learn more...

Project Structure

PROJECT STRUCTURE

The INCOME Project is structured in twelve work packages, allowing the division and distribution or work, and allocation of resources, in order to give answer to the Project objectives. Learn more...

Project Consortium

PROJECT CONSORTIUM

The partnership was carefully set up having in consideration the identified needs, the objectives of the project as well as the knowledge, skills and competences required by the tasks and activities to be developed in the lifespan of the project. Learn more...

PROJECT DESCRIPTION


  1. Soft Skills in Tourism - In the context of the tourism industry, soft skills are deemed to be highly relevant to the rate of performance and competitiveness of businesses. Research has confirmed, however, that there exists an apparent mismatch between the needs of the market and the level of soft skills with which tourism students and graduates are equipped with. The goal of INCOME Tourism is therefore to develop soft skills into higher education curricula and to strongly cooperate with businesses to ensure that learning opportunities in the ‘real’ world are provided to tourism graduates.
  2. The INCOME Tourism project aims to foster a new learning approach, linked to the development of soft skills and based on a cooperative learning process that brings together higher education institutions and businesses in the tourism industry.
    The development of the learning model will be carried out by HEIs in close consultation with the businesses. The HEIs will also collaborate with tourism businesses and sectoral associations in the identification of the relevant skills that graduates should develop, and in the design of the disciplines and of the conditions for these skills to be acquired and put into practice in the piloting experience of the project during a whole academic year. Another innovative element of the project is that the learning trios – students, in-company tutors and HEI tutors - will have the opportunity to travel to Germany and learn from the dual German model, within a mobility programme at the University of Ravensburg and its partner companies, maximising the learning exchange.
  3. INCOME is a 3-year project, and its main expected results are:
    » A soft Skills needs assessment report, tackling the skills gaps between tourism industry requirements and tourism curriculum;
    » A standardized soft skills curriculum that will overcome the plurality of understandings and approaches on soft skills;
    » A new cooperative learning model, fostering collaboration between HEIs and companies;
    » Qualification with higher employability potential, due to the matching skills exercise and the work-based model, promoting greater integration of young people into the labour market and consequently reducing their unemployment;
    » Dissemination events to raise awareness and reach stakeholders across Europe.


    Furthermore, a Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed by all partners (full and associate) by the end of the project as the basis for the creation of the European Forum for dual Higher Education.

PROJECT STRUCTURE

The INCOME Project is structured in twelve work packages, allowing the division and distribution or work, and allocation of resources, in order to give answer to the Project objectives.

WORK PACKAGES DESCRIPTION
WP 01 Project Management
Aims to assure the efficient and timely execution of the all WPs activities through continuous monitoring, project meetings, quarterly reports, progress assessment and remedial actions. Ensure delivery of project outcomes within time, resource and budget constraints, meet project requirements, and maintain productive collaboration arrangements.
WP 02 Needs Analysis / State of the art
Aims to promote a more detailed analysis of the state of the art regarding existing soft skills learning processes for the Tourism bachelor based on the previous analisys done by the partners. This analysis will identify, in a more accurate way, the needs of the industry in the countries involved.
WP 03 Selection of disciplines and development of the model
Aims to select the disciplines related with soft skills that are of common interest and to agree upon and develop a learning model based on an interaction between school and company.
WP 04 Technology based instruments
Aims to develop all the technology based instruments and tools of the project, including the project website with a database, a front and back office; the survey online; the e-learning platform for students and tutors.
Wp 05 Selection of Students and Tutors
Aims to develop the selection criteria and make the selection of students and company tutors.
WP 06 Preparation of Pilot testing
Aims to get all active players acquainted with the test phase, its objectives and expected results.
WP 07 New learning cooperative model pilot testing
Aims to implement the new cooperative learning model during an pilot testing period of 12 months allowing the Tourism students To get their soft skills qualifications in a real working context supported by in-company tutors and University tutors – the learning trios. These Trios will also enable the upskilling of the in-company tutors and the closer contact of the University tutors to the inside needs of the companies.
WP 08 Mobility
Aims to allow students and tutors to experience and learn about the dual German model and experience how other companies profit from being active partners in the education of the young people. To allow the company managers to get ownership about the new cooperative learning mode.
WP 09 Exploitation
Aims to create the conditions for the mainstreaming and sustainability of the project during and after the end of the project.
WP 10 Quality Assurance
The quality assurance will be targeting the process analysis with continuous improvement quality management logic and the evaluation will be addressing the overall performance of the project and the timely delivery of results.
The continuing active monitoring will include the quality assurance workshops happening along with each SC meeting and a regular contact with the partners through the project communication platform. Subsequently, the project coordinator will produce a quality assurance report including an overview of the project’s quality monitoring. Recommendations and remedial actions will be proposed in case of quality shortfalls as well as recommendations to be incorporated in the follow-up actions. A quality assurance report will be produced in M12 and M24 and a final report in M36.
WP 11 Evaluation
Aims to evaluate the overall performance of the project and to produce recommendations incorporating the constraints overcome and the lessons learned.
WP 12 Dissemination
Aims to produce a corporate image and its supports, create a Promotional Video, organise one National Info day in each country, create of a social media pack, use social Media to reach all stakeholders and create the Project Platform/Website.

PROJECT CONSORTIUM

IPVC logo IPVC

Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (Portugal)

CEVAL logo CEVAL

Business Confederation of the Alto Minho (Portugal)

CIM logo CIM Alto Minho

Intermunicipal Community of Alto Minho (Portugal)

CRM logo Central de Reserves de Montserrat

Larsa – Montserrat (Spain)

GIVI logo GiVi

Guida Viaggi (Italy)

University of Spolit logo University of Split

Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism (Croatia)

DHWB logo DHBW

Baden-Wüerttemberg Cooperative State University (Germany)

ATLAS logo ATLAS

Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research

PPLL logo PPLL Consulting

(Portugal)

Hotel Fabrica do Chocolate logo Hotel Fábrica do Chocolate

(Portugal)

Camelo Restaurantes logo Camelo Restaurantes

(Portugal)

Hotel Feel Viana logo Hotel Feel Viana

(Portugal)

Hotel Meira logo Hotel Meira

(Portugal)

Viv'Experiência logo Viv'Experiência

(Portugal)

Quintinha d'Arga logo Quintinha d'Arga

(Portugal)

ITTC logo ITTC

(Malta)

Westin Dragonara Resort logo The Westin Dragonara Resort

(Malta)

Robert Arrigo and Sons logo Robert Arrigo & Sons

(Malta)

Grand Hotel Excelsior logo Grand Hotel Excelsior

(Malta)

MHCS logo MHCS

(Malta)

Hotel Le Meridien Lav, Split logo Hotel Le Meridien Lav, Split

(Croatia)

Hotel Luxe, Split logo Hotel Luxe, Split

(Croatia)

Hotel Posh, Split logo Hotel Posh, Split

(Croatia)

Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Split logo Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Split

(Croatia)

Travel Agency Calvados Club logo Travel Agency Calvados Club

(Croatia)

Travel Agency LCT Travel logo Travel Agency LCT Travel

(Croatia)

codesa logo Codesa

(Italy)

Gattinoni logo Gattinoni Mondo di Vacanze

(Italy)

PKF logo Pkf Italia

(Italy)

SACBO logo SACBO

(Italy)

TH Resorts logo TH Resorts

(Italy)

TorreMirona logo TorreMirona Golf & Spa Resort

(Spain)

Carlemany logo Hotel Carlemany

(Spain)

Park Hotel San Jorge logo Park Hotel San Jorge

(Spain)

Hotel Camiral logo Hotel Camiral

(Spain)

Hotel Santa Marta logo Hotel Santa Marta

(Spain)

Marieta logo Casa Marieta

(Spain)

Brava logo Brava Hotels

(Spain)

Consejo Comarcal logo Consejo Comarcal del Baix Empordà

(Spain)

Turismon Travel logo Turismon Travel S.L.

(Spain)

Gastronomic Center logo Domus Sent Soví Gastronomic Center

(Spain)

Tourism office in Girona logo Tourism office in Girona

(Spain)

Tourism office in Calonge logo Tourism office in Calonge

(Spain)

Tourism Garrotxa logo Tourism Garrotxa

(Spain)

NEWS AND EVENTS

RESULTS

REPORTS

MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION

NEWSLETTERS

CONTACTS