Up-skilling Sustainability in Travel and Tourism: The socio-cultural point of view (USiTaT)

The project ' Up-skilling Sustainability in Travel and Tourism: The socio-cultural point of view (USiTaT)” was a partnership project in the field of tourism industry, nature and environmental prot...

In this project focus was in sustainable tourism and travelling from a socio-cultural point of view. The aim of the project was to gather information on how socio-cultural sustainability in tourism and travelling is understood and what kind of actions have been taken in partner countries in terms of socio-cultural sustainability in tourism companies and organizations, and how socio-cultural sustainability is considered in vocational education and training in partner countries. The socio-cultural competence of vocational training and the tourism sector was wanted to be developed and for the working life it was wanted to create a digital guidebook on best practices and for organizations offering vocational education, a study unit that increases the socio-cultural competence of teachers and students wanted to be created. Target groups are students, teachers, educational organisations, associations and working life of travel and tourism Industry. Target groups were students, teachers, educational organisations, associations and working life of travel and tourism Industry.

The following planned activities were implemented in the project: Kick off meeting: Project had a kick of meeting in Vantaa organized by Careeria and participated by all partners. Four LTT activities were organized and in each all partners were present. Every partner organized, planned and coordinated LTT in their country, except Careeria who organized the kickoff. Sixteen (16) online meetings were held and all of those had participants from all partners. During the LTTs and meetings preparation, planning, delivery, collection, and evaluation of materials for the IO1 and IO2 outputs were gathered and done. Two multiplier events were held, one in Malta by Future Focus and one in Finland by Eduko. Questionnaire of needs and experiences was made and delivered for the companies in the industry and 67 answers all together were collected and analyzed. Two Intellectual outputs were made: IO1 A Study Unit “Vocational Study Unit on Social-cultural Sustainability in Travel and Tourism” and IO2 A Digital guidebook for sustainable travel and tourism in a socio-cultural point of view. Working for the results was be divided in for topics: Gastronomy, World Heritage Centers, Cultural Identity, Accessibility and Liberty and every country was responsible for one topic. The guidelines for virtual piloting were created. Virtual lessons, virtual exchange and two-week face to face student exchange for the students was arranged, teachers also participated. Dissemination activities were arranged through institutional newsletters, social media, and activity reports. Webpages for the project were created. Testing and feedback of the materials was collected.

The concrete outputs: Feedback of the importance and of the current state of sustainability and how it is seen and thought in travel and tourism industry and teaching (gained from the research/questionnaire). Website www.usitat.com R1 A Study Unit “Vocational Study Unit on Social-cultural Sustainability in Travel and Tourism” R2 A Digital guidebook for sustainable travel and tourism in a socio-cultural point of view The guidelines for virtual piloting Feedback of piloting the IO1 and IO2 Student mobility from Netherlands to Italy, youtube video of experiences of the mobility. More work placements for Firda students in Malta and increased number of students working in Malta. Virtual activities for students with testing the materials. Student attendance to expert talks during LTT’s. Videos of expert talks on every topic. A program for visiting students and teachers and integrated in the tourism unit and bilingual hospitality management course in Firda. Learning units are already in use in e-learning modules for all travel and tourism students in Careeria.