If you’re considering Thailand and Laos as your next travel destinations, you might be curious to learn how universities and organizations in Europe, Thailand, and Laos are working together to train professionals with advanced skills in sustainable and digital tourism management. In this article, we will explore the progress and initiatives of INNO4Tourism, one year after the project launch.
In March 2024, INNO4Tourism was officially launched during the Kick-Off Meeting at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand. From the beginning, the project aimed to address one of the key challenges in the tourism sector in Thailand and Laos: the gap between higher education and labour market needs. Looking at the bigger picture, INNO4Tourism plays a crucial role in reshaping the future of sustainable tourism education in Thailand and Laos, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). As both countries experience continuous growth in the sector, the need for well-trained professionals in sustainable business, equipped with digital skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, has never been more critical.
Achievements so far
Over the past year, the project has made significant progress. One of the first major milestones was completing national and transnational reports by Asian universities, identifying the skills required and gaps in the Thai and Lao labour markets. These reports also included a series of recommendations to enhance the educational offerings in sustainable tourism.
In response to these findings and aligning with the project’s objectives, efforts focused on two key areas: establishing career guidance and support offices and developing new curricula in sustainable tourism for Asian universities.
Establishing Career Support Offices
Regarding the first area, the University of Macedonia (UoM) successfully launched an online training program on university-business cooperation (UBC) mechanisms and career services for students. This initiative aimed to equip university staff with tools and approaches to strengthen the connection between academia and the tourism industry, ultimately supporting future graduates in finding job opportunities aligned with their aspirations.
Following this training, Asian universities developed strategic plans to integrate UBC and career services into their institutional frameworks. By February 2025, all participating universities had successfully launched career support offices, providing students with personalised career guidance, job placement assistance, and networking opportunities with local tourism professionals.
Photos from the Career Support Offices launch events in Thailand (PSU, CMU) and Laos (NUOL, SKU), February 2025.
Developing new curricula
In the second area of focus, European partners developed a training package on curriculum design for sustainable tourism. Through an online platform hosted by UNIPA, academic staff from Asian universities can now access structured educational materials, including tools for designing and implementing innovative courses on sustainable tourism.
Final day of training activities at UNIPA, Italy, November 4-8, 2024.
Two in-person training sessions were organised to enhance these skills further and introduce digital teaching methods. Delegations from the four Asian universities participated in expert-led sessions and field visits. These sessions were held in Palermo, Italy, from November 4-8, 2024, hosted by UNIPA, and in Thessaloniki, Greece, from November 11-15, 2024, hosted by UoM.
Thai and Lao academic staff attending Philoxenia, an international tourism fair in Thessaloniki, during training activities hosted by the University of Macedonia, Greece, November 11-15, 2024.
These training sessions gave academic staff the necessary skills to develop innovative curricula in sustainable tourism and adopt modern teaching methods, thus ensuring students receive an engaging and relevant learning experience that prepares them for the job market.
What’s next?
Building on these achievements, the next phase of INNO4Tourism will focus on testing career support activities within the newly established offices, as well as developing and piloting the new academic programs. Specifically, the new courses will cover:
- Sustainable Business Management in Hospitality and Tourism
- Entrepreneurship in Hospitality and Tourism
- Introduction to E-Service
- Information Systems for Supply Chain and Customer Relations
- ICT for Tourism Businesses
- Labor Market Analysis and Job Search Strategies
- Digital Marketing for Tourism
- Personal Development for Tourism Professionals
Once completed, these modules will be introduced and tested among students at partner universities in Thailand and Laos. Before launching this phase, each university will host a five-day seminar for 40 professors and researchers, equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively teach the new programs.
A transformative journey
INNO4Tourism is not just a project—it is an investment in the future of sustainable tourism in Thailand and Laos. The skills and connections developed today will shape a new generation of professionals ready to drive change. The educational innovation initiated through this initiative will continue to yield results, transforming the sector and creating tangible opportunities for students, businesses, and local communities.
Although there is still a long way to go, the foundation for lasting impact in tourism education in Southeast Asia is promising. Stay tuned for the next steps!
Find out more about the project contacting Marika D’Angelo: marika.dangelo@cesie.org or following us on Facebook and Linkedin.
About the project
INNO4Tourism – Innovative Curricula for Life-Long Learning of Sustainable Tourism Workforce is a project funded the Erasmus+: Capacity building in the field of higher education (ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE).
Partners
- Prince of Songkla University (Thailand, coordinator)
- Chiang Mai University (Thailand)
- National University Of Laos (Lao PDR)
- Savannakhet University (Lao PDR)
- University Of Macedonia (Greece)
- Symplexis (Greece)
- Universita Degli Studi Di Palermo (Italy)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
- Phuket Tourist Association (Thailand)
For further information
Read more about the project and follow us on Facebook and Linkedin.
Contact Marika D’Angelo: marika.dangelo@cesie.org.
