HEAT - Learning Hospitality in Europe by undergoing A VET Traineeship
Over the past 20 years, the technical and vocational education has been subject to numerous reforms and changes that had weakened the training offer. Add to this the phenomenon of widespread Italic "genericism" that, pushing students towards a choice of extensive and generic studies, is actually the main reason of demotivation towards studies and school drop-out.
These elements move in contrast with the needs of the labor market for technical-professional and in particular in tourism and hotel sector.
Similarly, the demand for labor, in conjunction with the technological development and competitiveness of the market, requires increasingly specific skills and the same employers recognize that the preparation of the staff coming out of the training course is not always adequate.
To complete the picture, it is estimated that in the near future, at the conclusion of the current economic crisis, the demand for labor will greatly increase, with particular reference to its technical and professional fields.
These elements move in contrast with the needs of the labor market for technical-professional and in particular in tourism and hotel sector.
Similarly, the demand for labor, in conjunction with the technological development and competitiveness of the market, requires increasingly specific skills and the same employers recognize that the preparation of the staff coming out of the training course is not always adequate.
To complete the picture, it is estimated that in the near future, at the conclusion of the current economic crisis, the demand for labor will greatly increase, with particular reference to its technical and professional fields.
In this context the institutes IFOM, Varalli, Bertarelli and Besta have found the common need to compensate the mismatch between training offer and the needs of enterprises, reducing the mismatch between demand and supply of labor, reduce early school leaving and improving integration between schools and business. The realization of this general objective goes through the achievement of the following specific objectives:
- For students, to strengthen their professional skills, transversal and personal, enhancing their career prospects and their motivation, creating a sense of entrepreneurship, emancipation, European and intercultural awareness;
- For the staff involved, to improve their professional and linguistic skills, to understand the practices related to the world of education and its links with the world of work, to understand the social, linguistic and cultural differences, to increase the ability to address the needs of the most disadvantaged and to strengthen the capacity to sustain their motivation to work;
- For the organizations involved, to learn to operate internationally, to understand how to provide the most stimulating educational activities, to create a modern and dynamic working environment, to develop activities good for the whole civil society.
For this reason, the project "Learning in hospitality Europe by undergoing a traineeship VET" promotes the development of internships abroad for students of the consortium schools.
The project includes two activities:
1. Mobility of 92 students and 16 escorts for an internship abroad lasting one month;
2. Mobility of 20 neo-graduates for an internship abroad lasting 10 weeks.
The activities will take place from 01.06.2017 until 31.01.2019 and includes the selection and preparation of students, the organization of the mobilities, activities abroad, evaluations, dissemination and follow-up activities.
The consortium plans to include in mobility 8 students with special needs, in detail students with DSA or BES.
- For students, to strengthen their professional skills, transversal and personal, enhancing their career prospects and their motivation, creating a sense of entrepreneurship, emancipation, European and intercultural awareness;
- For the staff involved, to improve their professional and linguistic skills, to understand the practices related to the world of education and its links with the world of work, to understand the social, linguistic and cultural differences, to increase the ability to address the needs of the most disadvantaged and to strengthen the capacity to sustain their motivation to work;
- For the organizations involved, to learn to operate internationally, to understand how to provide the most stimulating educational activities, to create a modern and dynamic working environment, to develop activities good for the whole civil society.
For this reason, the project "Learning in hospitality Europe by undergoing a traineeship VET" promotes the development of internships abroad for students of the consortium schools.
The project includes two activities:
1. Mobility of 92 students and 16 escorts for an internship abroad lasting one month;
2. Mobility of 20 neo-graduates for an internship abroad lasting 10 weeks.
The activities will take place from 01.06.2017 until 31.01.2019 and includes the selection and preparation of students, the organization of the mobilities, activities abroad, evaluations, dissemination and follow-up activities.
The consortium plans to include in mobility 8 students with special needs, in detail students with DSA or BES.
The impact of the proposed actions will be wide and will involve multiple levels of recipients in direct and indirect manner:
Students
- Competitiveness on the labor market;
- Improving their social skills;
- The acquisition of transversal skills (self-esteem, responsibility, ability to take tasks, ...) will also bring benefits to emancipation and employability;
- Peers of the students are indirect beneficiaries, through the experiences of the participants in the action.
Teachers
- The renewed interest in teaching will bring greater efficiency in learning of the students;
- Sharing a common experience with the students will produce a greater understanding of their difficulties and more effective communication between teachers and students;
- A better understanding of the labor market in Europe will offer more precise knowledge in supporting the education of students.
Schools
- Increased ability to manage projects;
- Increased understanding of the training gaps of students who are entering the world of work;
- Development of ECVET as tools for the recognition and validation of students' Learning Outcomes;
- Increased understanding of the tourist business processes in Europe;
- Increased ability to intervene on motivation and orientation of students, particularly those with fewer opportunities;
- Increased competitiveness of vocational schools, compared to other training institutions, crediting the institutions involved at the local level;
- Refinement of the offer of training based on the skills and specific needs of the students, thanks to new contacts with foreign companies;
- Training of students in line with market requirements;
- Increased internationalization of training institutions, in line with European standards of education.
During the project, the Europe Direct Regione Lombardia will disseminate the project among citizens, schools and local companies.
Students
- Competitiveness on the labor market;
- Improving their social skills;
- The acquisition of transversal skills (self-esteem, responsibility, ability to take tasks, ...) will also bring benefits to emancipation and employability;
- Peers of the students are indirect beneficiaries, through the experiences of the participants in the action.
Teachers
- The renewed interest in teaching will bring greater efficiency in learning of the students;
- Sharing a common experience with the students will produce a greater understanding of their difficulties and more effective communication between teachers and students;
- A better understanding of the labor market in Europe will offer more precise knowledge in supporting the education of students.
Schools
- Increased ability to manage projects;
- Increased understanding of the training gaps of students who are entering the world of work;
- Development of ECVET as tools for the recognition and validation of students' Learning Outcomes;
- Increased understanding of the tourist business processes in Europe;
- Increased ability to intervene on motivation and orientation of students, particularly those with fewer opportunities;
- Increased competitiveness of vocational schools, compared to other training institutions, crediting the institutions involved at the local level;
- Refinement of the offer of training based on the skills and specific needs of the students, thanks to new contacts with foreign companies;
- Training of students in line with market requirements;
- Increased internationalization of training institutions, in line with European standards of education.
During the project, the Europe Direct Regione Lombardia will disseminate the project among citizens, schools and local companies.