On a global level, the tourism sector is facing a profound transformation linked to the growing need to embrace sustainability and digital innovation issues and thus meet evolving global demands. In order to support universities in Thailand and Laos to keep pace with these changes, INNO4Tourism was launched, which aims to bridge the gap between academia and the local tourism sector and help students acquire the skills needed to support an increasingly green and innovative sector.
The project was officially launched with a two-day meeting on 13 and 14 March 2024 at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand, laying the foundation for fruitful collaboration between Asian and European organizations.
The meeting was full of discussions and activities aimed at defining the next steps of the project: from signing bilateral agreements to formalise responsibilities and introduce consortium members and their expertise, to sharing insights on how to transform higher education in sustainable tourism in Thailand and Laos. Special attention was also given to discussing the skills required by the sector in terms of sustainable and digital practices, as well as the importance of improving collaboration between universities and businesses to ensure better training opportunities for students.
INNO4Tourism thus aims to align Asian universities with the needs of the labour market by introducing innovative curricula on sustainable tourism and strengthening cooperation mechanisms between universities and businesses. Among the activities to be carried out are research on the skills required in the sector in Thailand and Laos, the development of new curricula, the training of academic and administrative staff by two European universities (UNIPA and UoM) and the involvement of students in sustainable tourism initiatives. The main results of the project include
- the development of eight (8) new courses focusing on sustainable tourism;
- the launch of four (4) career support offices within the partner universities in Thailand and Laos;
- training and refresher programmes and activities for academic and administrative staff to enhance the learning experience and increase student employability;
- the involvement of more than 40,000 stakeholders, including students, staff, policy makers and local communities.
INNO4Tourism represents a concrete opportunity to transform the tourism sector in Thailand and Laos, making it more sustainable and innovative. Through university-business collaboration, new curricula development, and targeted training, the project aims to create a bridge between education and the labor market, preparing the next generation to meet the challenges of a changing industry. The expected results will not only strengthen students’ skills, but also contribute to a more responsible and globally competitive tourism industry.
For further information contact Marika D’Angelo: marika.dangelo@cesie.org.
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
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Contact Marika D’Angelo: marika.dangelo@cesie.org.
