The WELCOME project offered to the participants a mobility experience in companies of their field of study that included the ability to deal with the language skills possessed and the acquisition of specific job competencies. The project aimed to align the learning outcomes achieved in the education and training path with the needs of the labor market in the field of promotion and management of tourism and enhanced the knowledge of the development strategies adopted in other contexts in the field of interest, using the internship experience as a fundamental part of the training. The objectives of the project have been: - Promote lifelong learning as a right of the persons to increase and update their skills, abilities and knowledge in formal, non formal and informal learning contexts; - Promote the transparency of learning and compliance training to the needs of businesses and professions in order to facilitate the meeting between demand and supply of labor and increase the productivity and competitiveness of the production system; - Enlarge the marketability of qualifications at national and EU level in order to facilitate geographical and occupational mobility also in terms of internationalization of businesses and professions.
The WELCOME project was born and implemented in a dual context: 1) the EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT PLAN of the Consortium, aimed at strengthening the educational and vocational training in the tourism sector and developing European skills of the staff of WELCOME Consortium; 2) the NATIONAL STRATEGY PLAN OF TOURISM 2017-2022 (launched by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage) that aimed to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of the national tourism, supporting the improvement of the quality of tourism services and promoting economic prosperity and social development through the growth of the professions and the creation of new jobs. In line with these strategies and objectives the WELCOME project offered, therefore, to 170 STUDENTS (29 of whom with special needs) in initial vocational training of the fourth classes of the Vocational and Education Training Schools involved, including the Lead School, the opportunity to perform a mobility experience of European level of the duration of 30 days. All participants attended a vocational and training path in the field of tourism services and carried out the relevant professional work experience abroad.