On June 3 – 4, 2013, ITEM (Masters in International Tourism and Event Management) project partners met in Estonian School of Hotel and Tourism Management (EHTE), Tallinn, Estonia, to discuss the progress of the project and set the goals for the coming months.

During an intensive two day programme, the partnership evaluated the work done, reconsidered the next steps in joint study programme development and together with industry representatives participated in a seminar where the research report on employability and needs analysis was introduced by prof. Tim Knowles (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK). With support of researchers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Italy, prof. Knowles carried out an extensive investigation of the current situation in the tourism market and the trends for the coming years. The conclusions of the research will be applied directly in the development of the new joint master’s programme „International  Tourism Events Management”.

Discussions on the current situation in the tourism area was followed by intensive work on defining the outlines of the new programme. Together with industry representatives, the main key words, topics and methods were considered, and over the next months the partners will continue the work on defining the learning outcomes and developing the main structure of the joint master’s programme.

On June 5, the project meeting was followed by a student group consultancy module closing event in a small town of Mazsalaca. In the framework of the ITEM project, a specific module is being adapted to the Baltic situation which involves close cooperation of students and entrepreneurs on real problems. The pilot course was carried out by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia, lead by Assoc. Prof. Agita Līviņa, who guided the student work on investigating, analysing and proposing recommendations for the tourism development in Mazsalaca municipality. The closing event gathered entrepreneurs and municipality representatives from Mazsalaca, students and project partners for a final presentation and discussion on the recommendations that students have developed. Prof. Tim Knowles who evaluated the process commented that this was a very good start and we need to continue, it was important to have the local support and see the fluency of presentations, but we still need to work on more analysis and justification of the offered solutions to the problems. Local municipality admitted that it was useful to see how the situation looks from outside perspective and a lot of good ideas were introduced and should be implemented.

"This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein."

Erasmus Programme: Erasmus Multilateral projects

“Joint Masters in International Tourism and Events Management”

ITEM  - 527698-LLP-1-2012-1-LV-ERASMUS-EMCR