VET VR ACADEMY's objectives were in line with the United Nations' MDG 4: “Ensure access to quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”. UNESCO's Global Coalition for Education COVID-19 and Erasmus + promote innovation for VET. VET VR ACADEMY focused on hospitality training to equip teachers with innovative digital training tools. The use of ICT reduces the carbon footprint of face-to-face training while maintaining the essential contact with the customer during a course. The general objectives of the project were to - promote digital tools in VET and the digital transition - strengthen digital training capacities - increase the attractiveness of VET through innovative and flexible methods, and develop new ecological approaches via e-learning. The specific objectives were to - respond to the new learning needs in the hospitality industry following COVID-19 - develop the pedagogical framework and digital tools for VET schools and trainers - offer new opportunities for practical learning and improve the intercultural and language skills of VET students
The Covid-19 crisis has had a huge impact on vocational education and training, as many professional sectors have had to close or slow down their activities due to the various blockages. One of the sectors most affected is the hotel and restaurant industry. As a result of all these closures, thousands of young trainees have not had the opportunity to complete their work placements. This project has sought to help provide a concrete response using e-learning methods and virtual reality, in particular thanks to the active participation of two training centres as formal partners. We also note that the Erasmus Plus programme is focusing more and more on mobility for VET projects. There is a growing interest in extending mobility opportunities to vocational and educational training. This requires preparation, particularly linguistic preparation, for which not all training centres are yet equipped, due to a lack of teachers and time. Finally, vocational training in this field is experiencing a recruitment crisis that reflects those of employers, with these professions losing their appeal.