Entrepreneurial Learning Exchange Initiative for Sustainable Hospitality SMEs in the Balkan-Mediterranean Region (HELIX)

Transcription

1 Entrepreneurial Learning Exchange Initiative for Sustainable Hospitality SMEs in the Balkan-Mediterranean Region (HELIX) (INTERREG V-B) BALKAN-MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAM

2 Priority Axis: 1. Entrepreneurship & Innovation Thematic Objective: 10 Investing in education, training and vocational training for skills and lifelong learning Specific Objective 1.3. Territories of knowledge Cooperation project of 4 HEIs and 2 Business Umbrella Organisations Duration: 24 months

3 Partnership Varna University of Management, Bulgaria (LP/PP1) University of Thessaly, Department of Planning, Greece (PP2) Aleksander Moisiu University of Durres, Albania (PP3) University of Shkodra Luigj Gurakuqi, Albania (PP4) Macedonian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, FYROM (PP5) Culinary Arts and Hospitality Association, Bulgaria (PP6)

4 Main objective To increase the competencies for sustainable business and innovation (especially among SMEs and entrepreneurs) in the Balkan-Med hospitality sector, in particular by developing effective learning and practice communities, learning tools and joint educational offers aimed at strengthening sector-specific skills for sustainability and adoption of technological and managerial innovations.

5 Targeting regional needs entrepreneurial skills shortages and the associated loss of competitiveness; insufficient innovation capacity; inefficient use of natural resources in the hospitality and tourism industry. HELIX targets improved knowledge transfer and learning in hospitality in view of raising its sustainability and turning sustainability into a competitive advantage.

6 Understanding sustainability in the hospitality sector in the Balkan-Mediterranean Region Substantial contribution to economic growth and employment BUT they need to change along the triple bottom line for a sustainable business 1) the environmental dimension: minimizing environmental impact, 2) the economic dimension: maximizing profit, 3) the social dimension: maximizing the wellbeing of stakeholders. SMEs are the main economic agents - lag behind in utilizing resource-saving technologies and processes and underperform in energy efficiency and waste management.

7 Our approach HELIX contributes to creating an innovative learning environment that utilizes the competitive advantages linked to fostering sustainability in hospitality SMEs. The following actions are planned: Aligning the vocational education (at secondary and tertiary level, as well as continuous vocational education) in hospitality with regional economic development and innovation needs regarding sustainability; Bringing together research, training and umbrella organizations to devise interdisciplinary solutions and mentorship support for sustainability in hospitality SMEs; Joint learning scheme to enable current and prospective professionals to manage innovations and benefit from knowledge transfer.

8 Target groups Owners and managers of hospitality SMEs and start-ups benefit from the developed mentorships and learning opportunities; Students and trainees of hospitality and tourism benefit from improved training offers and permeability of the training programs; Trainers at higher and continuous VET in hospitality management will learn how to improve their teaching programs so as to keep them relevant to business needs; Umbrella organizations in hospitality avail of new tools to offer competitiveness support services for their members.

9 Main deliverables Regional Needs Assessment Report (NAR) for hospitality SMEs sustainability; Best practice database with sustainable development solutions; Regional Action Plan (transnational and national level) for encouraging the competitiveness of hospitality SMEs; Sustainable Tourism Pedagogy and Entrepreneurial Skills for Sustainable Hospitality Enterprises curricula and courses with pathways for VET, HEI, LLL and OERs; Company mentorship tool for introducing technological and business innovations for sustainability in SMEs; HELIX Transnational Network; Mentorship trainings, capacity building and pilot blended mobility skill-building courses; Experience Exchange and Employment Fair for sustainable hospitality.

10 Specific objectives PSO1: To study stakeholders needs for skills and competencies necessary to improve the sustainability of the hospitality sector and to devise efficient capacity-building strategies in education; PSO2: To develop integrated learning tools for the main hospitality professions focusing on: (i) improving knowledge on sustainable development and innovations management, (ii) raising the quality of teaching in these fields; PSO3: To promote collaborative action and networking among R&D centres, HEIs, VETproviders and enterprises aimed at improving entrepreneurial and innovation management skills in the target sector; PSO4: To form a pool of committed experts, researchers and professionals who can act as multipliers for the adoption of sustainability innovations in hospitality.

11 Integrated activities WP1. Project Management and Coordination WP2. Project Communication and Dissemination WP3. Setting strategic goals for entrepreneurial learning in hospitality (PSO1) WP4. Integrated Entrepreneurial Learning Scheme for sustainable hospitality SMEs (PSO2) WP5. Balkan-Mediterranean Transnational Network for Sustainable Hospitality (PSO3) WP6. Pilot Learning for Better Skills (PSO4)

12 WP1. Project Management and Coordination 1. Formation of the Project s Steering Committee (PSC) LP: Project Manager, Project Coordinator, Financial Manager and Evaluator, PPs: Project Coordinator and Accountant each (16 ps) 2. Collaborative development of a Plan for Management and Monitoring, incl. project document templates and partners sections 3. Preparation and adoption of Evaluation Guidelines with a Quality Control Plan 4. Organization of 4 Consortium-building Workshops (CBW) with Quality Panels in Varna/BG, Volos/GR, Shkoder/AL, Skopje/FYROM, attended by PSC. 5. Elaboration of progress and final reports (technical, evaluation, financial), incl. financial auditing. Deliverables: Project proposal (externalized), Plan for Management and Monitoring, Evaluation Guidelines with a Quality Control Plan, 4 Consortium-building Workshops with Quality Panels, 5 Project Reports, FLCs

13 WP2. Project Communication and Dissemination 1. Development of a Project Communication Plan, incl. a Project Logo and Slogan 2. Development of a Project Website and Social Media Channels with information in all partner languages & English (expected audience of 3000 visitors): 3. Media information campaign HELIX will commence and end with press sessions in each partner organization. Media releases on a 3-month basis & upon finalization of each deliverable; Media sessions in all events. 4. Publication of a Project Results Brochure in all partner languages and English 5. Organization of national awareness raising events in Varna,BG, Volos,GR, Durres,AL, Skopje, MK with 50 ps each and final dissemination conference in Volos/GR with 50 ps. Deliverables: Project Communication Plan with partner country sections; Project Web-Site and Social Media Channels with partner country sections; Project Results Brochure in 6 languages; 5 national awareness-raising events; Final Dissemination Conference

14 WP3. Setting strategic goals for entrepreneurial learning in hospitality 1. Surveying the country- and region-specific needs of hospitality SMEs regarding competitiveness and sustainability. 2. Creation of a database and implementation roadmap with competitive sustainability solutions and innovations for hospitality in the Balkan-Med area (focus on resource efficiency, business organization, community valorization) 3. Elaboration of a Regional Action Plan/RAP for encouraging SMEs' competitiveness in hospitality via improving sustainability. Deliverables: Regional Needs Assessment Report; Best practice database and implementation roadmap; RAP

15 WP4. Integrated Entrepreneurial Learning Scheme for sustainable hospitality SMEs 1. Development of training curriculum and course Sustainable Tourism Pedagogy (120hs) for VET/higher VET trainers - with Open Education Resources/OERs and blended mobility (online & on-site learning). A special focus will be put on innovations management in tourism. 2. Development of training curriculum and course Entrepreneurial Skills for Sustainable Hospitality Enterprises (120hs), focused on resource management, green skills, technological innovations, with country-specific pathways for VET, HEI and LLL, OERs and blended mobility. 3. Development of a company mentorship model and tool for introducing technological and business innovations for sustainability in SMEs, incl. mentors database (with managers and companies) for each partner country. Deliverables: Sustainable Tourism Pedagogy Training Curriculum & Course; Entrepreneurial Skills for Sustainable Hospitality Enterprises Curriculum and Course; Company Mentorship Model & Tool

16 WP5. Balkan-Mediterranean Transnational Network for Sustainable Hospitality 1. Network organization, equipment of contact points (CPs) at all Partners 2. Launch of training and counselling services (WP4), incl. OERs 3. Organization of a Joint Company Mentorship Training for Sustainability Innovations in Hospitality at Varna CP: successful companies will advise entrepreneurs and start-ups on introducing sustainability innovations 4. Organization of a Joint Mentorship Webinar in Sustainable Hospitality for Entrepreneurs 5. Workshop for building capacity of umbrella organizations to support sustainable hospitality 2 days, Varna/Dobrich Deliverables: Balkan-Mediterranean Transnational Network for Entrepreneurial Learning; Joint Company Mentorship Training; Mentorship Webinar; Capacity-building for umbrella organizations

17 WP6. Pilot Learning for Better Skills 1. Piloting a blended-mobility course (BMC) Sustainable Tourism Pedagogy for VET/HEI trainers - theory in home country CP, field visit in Durres/P3, 2. Piloting a BMC Entrepreneurial Skills for Sustainable Hospitality Enterpr~s for SME repr~s - theory in home country CP for 10 ps/partner, field visit in Volos/P2 3. Piloting a BMC Entrepreneurial Skills for Sustainable Hospitality Enterprepr~s for 50 students starting up own business theory in home country CP for 20 ps/partner, field visit in Skopje/P5 4. Experience Exchange and Employment Fair for sustainable hospitality - 2 days in Varna, 10ps/Partner Deliverables: Pilot blended mobility for 50 trainers; Pilot blended mobilities for 35 SME repr~s and 60 students; Experience Exchange and Employment Fair.

18 Results 1. Utilization of technological and business innovations in SMEs to improve their sustainability and competitiveness; 2. Improvement of the educational offer and skills-development options for mangers and staff by capitalizing on technology and innovations transfer; 3. Sustained networking among education institutions and business support organizations for technology transfer, mentorship and training schemes tailored to the needs of the sector; 4. Practical implementation of sustainable development measures at the level of individual SMEs.

19 Consortium contacts VUM: UTH: UAMD: UNISHK: MBSK: