VocMat 2 Transfer of Innovation Jayne Stocks – Sheffield Hallam University

Background - Europe needs to improve its product   World tourism arrivals growing:+6.6%   Europe recording lowest results: +4.8%   Asia & Pacific: +10.4%; Middle East: +16.4%   Europe = mature market  customer expectations are growing   Need for higher quality/value for money   Europe’s managers need training support Source: UNWTO June 2008

  Research (European, national, local)   Existing skills gaps in management   Issues:   No time available   High cost of reputable training   Replacement of staff on training   Distance to training courses   Not available in workplace What are the training development issues?

Aims of VocMat   To develop a European solution for tourism industry   To deliver a new, innovative, flexible training method   To target middle & senior tourism managers & owners

How VocMat addressed the issues   By creating a new training model relevant across Europe   By delivering new accredited modules at PG level to test the model   By designing a new Curriculum for European tourism managers   By testing relevance and suitability through a pilot group of European tourism managers

How VocMat works Flexible model using a range of mechanisms for home / workplace learning:   Workshops   Video-conferencing   On-line training resources   On-line assessment   CD-Roms   Hard copy (handbooks etc)   Discussion Board/Chat Room

Who benefits from VocMat?   All Levels of Tourism Management:   Senior: Learning/updating skills   Middle: career development   All Sizes of Tourism Business:   Micro, SME & Large   Private & Public Sector   All Types of Tourism Business:   Accommodation   Attractions   Destination Management Organisations   Tourist Information Centres

The VocMat 2 Partnership   Tourism bodies:   Tourist Board Training (UK – Applicant)   Catalan Assoc of Tourist Officers (APTALC)   Estonian Tourist Board   Malta Tourism Society   Tourism Management Institute (UK)   Universities:   Pärnu College of Tartu University (Est.)   Sheffield Hallam University (UK)   Sungurlu VTDA (Turkey)   University of Florence   University of Girona   University of Malta

VocMat 2: The Project and Pilot Group   Length of Project: Nov Oct 2009   Research: Dec 2007 – March 2008   Model Revision & Module Identification: Mar – May 2008   Translation to pilot group languages   Pilot Group Recruitment: Mar – May 2008   First Test Phase (Strategic Management): May – Oct 2008

Review of First Module   The following areas are in the process of review:   Feedback from pilot groups and tutors   Use and relevance of materials across Europe   Benefits and costs of multi language delivery   Engagement of participants with module support mechanisms – discussion boards, chat rooms   Completion statistics and reasons for non completion   Lessons learnt for module 2

The Remainder of the Pilot Project   Evaluation: Nov 2008   Model Revision and translations: Dec 2008 – Jan 2009   Second Test Phase (Innovation & Entrepreneurship): Feb – July 2009   Evaluation: Aug – Sept 2009   Final Products (Virtual Learning Environment etc): Oct 2009

Keeping up-to-date and more information Any questions?