About the Project
This is the Comenius bilateral school project in which the partners are Turističko-ugostiteljska i prehrambena škola Bjelovar (Croatia) and Virginska gymnasiet (Sweden). It is funded by European Union.
Our goals are to improve students' communication/language skills, improve professional competences and soft skills (team work, problem solving, self confidence, initiative and similar), raise awareness of the increasing number of disabled tourists since they are an important segment of tourism, present the results of the research, investigate how different countries, up to present time, have adapted their hosting facilities to needs of guests with various disabilities, present Croatia and Bjelovar to Swedish students and teachers and present Sweden and Orebro to Croatian students and teachers.
There are 22 Swedish and 24 Croatian students involved in the project. Together with the Swedes there are three teachers. From Croatia there are eleven teachers.
There will be 2 student and teacher exchanges - one in Spring 2014 and the other one in Spring 2015. Also, we will have 2 project meetings with teachers only (October 2013 and September 2014).
European added value
Bring together young generation from different parts of Europe and have them think of the importance of working in hospitality industry, way they perceive guests, especially disabled ones, and make them work together on a book of suggestions for other students.
Learners and proffesionals will have an opportunity to meet each other during the project. They will work together towards the same goal for two years. The contacts created during the project will continue and will lower the treshold for European cooperation in the future.
Young people coming from different cultures will already have specific knowledge in a European network when they start their careers. The network will help them share ideas and work in another European country and within a multicultural environment.
The project will help teachers and other participating staff to broaden their views, to get pedagogical ideas and to increase knowledge of education and training within the EU.
One clear advantage in developing the teaching is that teachers will be able to use the materials created in the project with future students of hotel management or for English lessons.
This application has been written as a result of participation of all applicants.
Project coordinator will be the Croatian school and each school has already offered to take care of specific tasks. At the first project meeting the time frame will be discussed in more detail and the partners have already agreed to respect the timing aspect as an import part of a successful project.
BOTH SCHOOLS WILL:
- organize a language course for the students and teachers involved in the exchanges and meetings
- organize two exchange visits, one each year of the project
- present their schools and have an exhibition on different topics at each meeting
- prepare and conduct surveys among students, parents and teachers to see how they see the hotel offer in their respective countries and if in their opinion they are susceptible to disabled persons
- collect information about the state in their respective countries in regard of hotels, restaurants, beaches, tourist guides modifications for disabled persons
- make a presentation on gathered data and on what else needs to be done in order to make such guests feel comfortable
- keep regular contacts with partners by email, Facebook, blogs, video conferences and Skype.
THE CROATIAN SCHOOL WILL:
- take part in organizing the first and final project meeting
- organize a quick language course of Croatian language for Swedish students and teachers
- design a graphic sign, eg. a logo
- arrange a mailing list for participating schools and those who wish to receive regular information about the project
- prepare forms ofor project documents and meetings
- document the trans-national meetings
THE SWEDISH SCHOOL WILL:
- take part in organizing the second project meeting
- organize a quick language course of Swedish language for Croatian students and teachers
- make a web page related to the project
- make evaluations of the project development and of each particular meeting
- be responsible for printing the project publishing material
- use social media for publishing project activities and results
- prepare materials for dissemination of the project
Impact
Each individual in this project will become more aware about different types of guests coming to tourist destinations and learn how to help them with their specific needs. It will affect each participant as an individual, the society and in the end, the world.
There will be an exchange of ideas, experiences and new skills. Additionally an appreciation of your own culture as well as other cultures and gastronomy will develop. New friendships will be made.
From the point of view of learners participating in the project, it will definitely increase their self-confidence, improve their presentation skills, team-work skills, documentation skills, skills of using social media for professional purposes, planning skills, skills in finding information, self-evaluation skills and language skills. The project will increase interest in international activities and mobility among a wide range of students.
The professionals will improve their international skills (language and other communication skills), cooperation between learners and staff will become closer, they will improve their skills in using social media in project work. They will broaden their knowledge and understanding of education and the work environment in Europe.
Within the participating institutions, the project will help create equal opportunities for learners. The project has marketing value for colleagues because the process and its results will be published in local media.
