The INCOME Tourism aims at developing a new learning approach based on a cooperative learning process joining higher education and tourism businesses applied to soft skills learning to be incorporated in the last year of the Tourism Bachelor (EQF6).Although some efforts can be found in different higher education contexts, there is still the need and potential to bring academia and industry together in a new cooperative learning model to get a curriculum focusing on soft skills and with learning outcomes adapted to the real, evolving and demanding needs of the industry, which is the ultimate purpose of INCOME Tourism. 6 HEIs from 6 countries collaborate with tourism businesses and tourism associations in the identification of graduate relevant skills and respective learning process to match the businesses reality good performance. Another innovative element of the project is that the learning trios – students, in-company tutors and HEI tutors - will have the opportunity to travel to Germany to “emerge” in the dual German model during 2 weeks of learning mobility and its partner companies, maximising the learning exchange.INCOME is a 3 years project, and its main expected results are:• A soft Skills needs assessment report, tackling the skills gaps between tourism industry requirements and tourism curriculum;• A standardize soft skills curriculum that will overcome the plurality of understandings and approaches on soft skills;• A new cooperative learning model, fostering collaboration between HEIs and companies;• Qualification with higher employability potential, due to the matching skills exercise and the work based model, promoting greater integration of young people into the labour market and consequently reducing their unemployment;• Dissemination events to raise awareness and reaching stakeholders across Europe.A Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed by all partners as the basis for the creation of the European Forum for dual Higher Education.
NCOME Tourism seeks enhancing tourism graduates´ soft skills, taking into account the employers’ demand for skills and qualifications, through an innovative, integrated learning approach, involving businesses in the designing and piloting process, building a sustainable partnership between HEIs and industry, addressing the identified skills gaps.
The INCOME Tourism aims at developing a new learning approach based on a cooperative learning process joining higher education and tourism businesses applied to soft skills learning to be incorporated in the last year of the Tourism Bachelor (EQF6). Although some efforts can be found in different higher education contexts, there is still the need and potential to bring academia and industry together in a new cooperative learning model to get a curriculum focusing on soft skills.
<< Background >> The INCOME Tourism aims at developing a new learning approach based on a cooperative learning process joining higher education and tourism businesses applied to soft skills learning to be incorporated in the last year of the Tourism Bachelor (EQF6). Although some efforts can be found in different higher education contexts, there is still the need and potential to bring academia and industry together in a new cooperative learning model to get a curriculum focusing on soft skills. << Objectives >> NCOME Tourism seeks enhancing tourism graduates´ soft skills, taking into account the employers’ demand for skills and qualifications, through an innovative, integrated learning approach, involving businesses in the designing and piloting process, building a sustainable partnership between HEIs and industry, addressing the identified skills gaps. << Implementation >> 6 HEIs from 6 countries collaborate with tourism businesses and tourism associations in the identification of graduate relevant skills have identified the need of further development of soft skills; a new cooperative learning model was developed, supported by the dual system of DHBW, supported and implemented by the HEIs in close consultation with the companies involved. Practical learning contexts are set, involving the learning trios – students, in-company tutors and HEI tutors. << Results >> Soft Skills needs assessment; standardized soft skills curriculum; A new cooperative learning model, fostering collaboration between HEIs and companies; Qualification of young professionals with higher employability potential; matching skills exercise and the work based model; integration of young people into the labour market and consequently reducing their unemployment; A Memorandum of cooperation was signed.