"RARE R.O.U.T.E.S" aims to provide innovative answers for the future of technical and professional training in the field of tourism. The project aims to contribute to strengthening and internationalizing the practices already active at IIS M. Bianchi through the "Travel Manager" project. The latter is a multidisciplinary learning path that, through the design, implementation and reporting of “rare” travels, allows participants to obtain professionalising skills and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. The same objectives will be replicated with reference to Responsible Tourism (RT), promoting an intersectoral (schools, private entities, third sector organizations) and transnational partnership characterized by non-formal, peer and experiential learning, and by a partnership "at the antipodes ”by geography (Turkey and Iceland), by culture (from the gates of the Middle East to one of the most Nordic and "remote" European territories) and by the development of RT (at the forefront in northern Europe, starting up in the Middle East). The primary objective is therefore the development of an entrepreneurial awareness in the RT sector: students will acquire skills as Tour Operators, tourist guides and travel reporters, combined with the development of communication and intercultural skills. By becoming attentive promoters of their territories and at the same time developing skills of high professional and personal value, young people will not only increase their chances of finding a job but also their civic participation and will thus be able to contribute to the development of social, cultural and economic capital of their own communities. Specific objectives of the project are: - to provide teachers and trainers with specific knowledge and skills on the subject of RT, sharing at transnational level the good practices already tested at the local level - strengthen the role of VET students and young people as key actors of change and sustainable development in local communities - promoting the benefits of RT among young people and in local communities, developing their social and cultural capital and initiating shared RT paths - promote collaborative and intersectoral approaches aimed at strengthening VET students and technical-professional training opportunities, also for young people at risk of dropping out of school and with fewer opportunities - encourage access to training opportunities in the RT sector through new digital technologies - encourage dialogue and cooperation between countries and partners, facilitating access to practices and knowledge in the field of RT and promoting synergies between different actors, in particular the labour market, schools and civil society To achieve these objectives, the project includes the following activities: - 3 trainings for 60 teachers, tourism operators and youth workers - 3 cycles of pilot activities at local level for about 150 students between 15 and 19 years of age - 3 "Summer school" exchanges for 90 young students - 1 final European seminar for 20 teachers, operators and youth workers - 3 alternating school-work mobility for 6 students - 3 dissemination events - 4 project meetings The expected results are: R1 - The skills of schools and partner entities are strengthened, thanks to the promotion of innovative methodologies relating to vocational training in the field of RT, the use of digital technologies to encourage youth entrepreneurship, close cross-sectoral collaboration and internationalization of trainings. R2 - Students take part in pilot training activities on RT, conceived and developed starting from the educational modules developed (IO1) and inclusive of innovative approaches and methodologies focused on the use of new digital tools (IO2 and IO3). R3 - Thanks to the joint work of teachers, private sector operators, RT experts, youth workers and students, the project creates digital tools, collected in a portal both didactic and for future job opportunities, that includes: - a database (Wiki model) with current and potential destinations, itineraries, operators and structures related to RT - an online simulation educational game developed by teachers and students, accompanied and supported by representatives of TO partners and external ICT technicians, which will allow young people to try to design and set RT offers and companies (simulated and real) in their community - a bulletin board / database with new start-up ideas of RT, to facilitate the interaction between different players in the sector and the launch of business opportunities - a system of skills and competences certification in the field of RT, created through the creation and use of digital badges - a pilot course, and the related digital modules developed within the project, publicly and free of charge accessible by all users of the wiki portal
Our main goal was to revolutionize technical and vocational training in Responsible Tourism (TR), meeting the industry's evolving needs. Led by Bianchi, the "Travel Manager" project aimed to strengthen and globalize educational practices. This multidisciplinary path focuses on designing, implementing, and reporting niche trips, nurturing both professional skills and an entrepreneurial mindset among participants as well as digital and technology-based competences. Central to our approach was cultivating intersectoral partnerships among schools, private entities, and the third sector, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. We also aimed to foster transnational partnerships characterized by non-formal, peer-to-peer, and experiential learning methods, transcending geographical and cultural barriers. At the heart of our mission was instilling entrepreneurial awareness in Responsible Tourism. Students acquired skills as Tour Operators, tourist guides and travel reporters, alongside developing communication and intercultural competencies. By nurturing these talents, our aim was to boost employability and promote active civic engagement, contributing to communities' holistic development in social, cultural, and economic aspects.
Today schools need to bridge the gap between education and the labor market by fostering stronger ties between the training sector and the professional world. Particularly, the tourism sector increasingly demands skilled professionals capable of navigating contemporary challenges. We require individuals who can enhance the region's potential and advocate for sustainable and responsible tourism practices—criteria pivotal for fostering a thriving tourism industry. However, implementing such standards in our current society presents significant hurdles. In this regard, there is also a mounting call for cultivating entrepreneurial acumen alongside a suite of transversal skills that will empower students to effectively tackle present-day challenges To bridge gaps in the foundational education system, schools must forge closer bonds with the labor market, fostering networks and activating projects aimed at addressing these challenges. This entails employing interdisciplinary approaches to learning, embracing experiential learning methodologies such as 'learn-by-doing' and leveraging a spectrum of methodologies to cultivate essential soft skills crucial for the workplace. RARE ROUTES (RR) has been dedicated to fulfilling these objectives