VocMat 2 Transfer of Innovation

2 Background - Europe needs to raise its game  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

3  Research (European, national, local)  Existing skills gaps in management  Problems:  No time available  High cost of training  Replacement of staff on training  Distance to training courses  Not available in workplace What is the problem?

4 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

5 How VocMat addressed the problems  By creating a new training model relevant across Europe  By delivering new accredited courses 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

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

7 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

8 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

9 Keeping up-to-date

10 VocMat 2: The Role of the Pilot Group  Length of Project: Nov Oct 2009  Research: Dec 2007 – March 2008  Model Revision & Module Identification: Mar – May 2008  Pilot Group Recruitment: Mar – May 2008  First Test Phase (Strategic Management): May – Oct 2008  Evaluation: Nov 2008  Model Revision: Dec 2008 – Jan 2009  Second Test Phase (Innovation & Entrepreneurship): Feb – July 2009  Evaluation: Aug – Sept 2009  Final Products (Virtual Learning Environment etc): Oct 2009

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