Digital Employer Engagement and Learning for Hospitality and Tourism under Pandemic and Other Crisis Situations

"<< Background >>The DEELforHOST project was initiated to address the critical needs of both Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the Hospitality and Tourism Industry (HTI), particularly in response to challenges posed by technological advancements and the COVID-19 pandemic. HTI enterprises lacked digital readiness and relied on outdated communication methods, while HEIs needed to shift towards digital learning and employer engagement. The pandemic heightened these needs, exposing vulnerabilities in both sectors.The project aimed to create an innovative digital platform to enhance collaboration between HEIs and HTI, supporting digital transformation, continuous professional development, and the employability of students and graduates. It also focused on equal access for disadvantaged groups, including small enterprises in remote areas, unemployed graduates, and individuals with mobility impairments. By fostering digital cooperation, the project sought to ensure the sustainable development of HTI and support the future human resource needs of the industry at national, European and International Level.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to develop, pilot, test, evaluate & deliver a smart Platform which would act as an electronic tool facilitating communication, cooperation & learning between employers and HEIs offering programmes in HT. The platform facilitates a functional relationship proactively satisfying the needs of all parties concerned (HTI, HEIs, faculty, students/graduates). Through the platform numerous benefits are secured by all stakeholders; 1.digital transformation and enhancement of employer engagement between HE and HTI 2.make HEI curricula relevant & effective, providing the knowledge, skills & competences required by current & future HTI employers 3.improvement of the delivery of HEI curricula utilizing resources & tools sourcing from the industry 4.enhance student digital competences 5.secure student internship monitoring & evaluation in a modern, effective & secure way 6.enhance HEI research capabilities by focusing on current & future industry problems and needs contribute to the development of inclusive educational systems addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups amongst stakeholders 7.contribute to the development of inclusive educational systems.<< Implementation >>The project focused on the development of a key intellectual output which is an innovative platform, a state-of the art ICT tool that would digitally transform and enhance employer engagement activities between HEIs offering programmes in HT and the HTI, with all the resulting benefits outlined above. Various online activities took place such as: online surveys & discussion fora for the improvement of the quality & relevance of educational curricula & materials, based on the rapidly evolving needs of the industry; online CPD activities on the shifting competences required during & after the crisis; online R&D activities for crisis problem solving & post-crisis preparation; digital facilitation of industry contribution in curricula delivery, online delivery of curricula utilizing online guest lectures & presentations from the industry, remote industry study visits, training & job shadowing, virtual contribution of the industry in student projects, competitions & event organization etc.; blended internships & online recruitment for part or full time employment of students/graduates; online 360 degree assessment of internships & other HEI activities; remote resource sharing, awards, sponsorships. The platform has a clear educational orientation in the field of HT, involving digitally employers in the essence of educational work. It works as an online management tool for all HEIs who offers employerengagement activities in a modern and effective way. It facilitates European digital networking, collaboration and proliferation of good practice. Additionally, the project delivers results during the implementation of the project that are not considered to be intellectual outputs but they are deliverables in order for the main Result to be finalized (the Online Platform)For the project management, a Project management guide is created and describes and indicates the role and responsibilities of the Coordinator and Partners, the role and responsibilities of activity leaders, detailed plan of the tasks of the partners, quality assurance methods and tools, methods of certification of quality, procedures to be used in different situations (decision making, communication with partners, handing in a deliverable(s), organization of meetings, risk assessment and actions to reduce risk, dealing with non-conformances, conflict avoidance and resolution etc.). Also a detailed work plan and workflow, presenting the start and end of the IO, activities, multiplier events. Meeting agendas, meeting minutes, participants’ lists and other documents from the transnational project meetings. For the dissemination: Dissemination strategy guidelines, and templates, on which the partners listed their dissemination activities , Project website, which presents all the information about the project, the activities, news, Milestones and outputs of the project. Project leaflet, Project logo, Poster, Press releases in newspapers and electronically and newsletters were released, in HTML format.For the Quality Assurance: Internal evaluation report, presenting the evaluation of the outputs, the activities, the multiplier events, and the teaching/learning/training activities, based on the indicators presented in the quality assurance manual as well as the evaluation of the effectiveness and the efficiency of the project. Finally for the development of the IO, several activities were implemented including workshops, research and research reports, evaluation activities and evaluation reports, pilot testings, focus groups etc. that resulted in various deliverables and ultimately in the Platform. Task 1: Strategic Planning(SP), Report on the Focus Group that were conducted Deliverable 1: the draft ""Platform Strategic Document"" (PSD)Deliverable 2: the ""General Specification Document"" (GSD) Deliverable 3: ""Analytic Specification Document"" (ASD) Deliverable 4: ""report on pilot testing & evaluation of the platform"" & the “Policy Recommendations Report (PRR) to HE Authorities & Institutions for smart digital responsesto the pandemic situation & other similar crisis.<< Results >>The DEELforHOST project resulted in several concrete outputs and key results, particularly focusing on the development of an innovative online platform designed to enhance the collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the Hospitality and Tourism Industry (HTI). These outputs provided long-term benefits to both sectors by addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting digitalization in learning, recruitment, and professional development.1. Development of the Online Smart PlatformThe primary output of the project was an online smart platform that facilitated digital communication, cooperation, and learning between HEIs and HTI. This platform allowed HEIs to implement educational, research, and training activities while addressing several issues caused by the pandemic, such as restrictions on face-to-face contact. The platform served as a forum for online networking, enhancing the digital readiness and engagement of both sectors.Key features of the platform included:-Continuous online research and discussion forums for employers to help shape and improve curricula.-Involvement of HTI professionals in the design and assessment of real-life projects.-Opportunities for virtual study visits, guest lectures, thematic workshops, and remote mentoring for students.-Facilitation of digital learning and continuous professional development (CPD) activities for HTI staff.-Online consultancy, research, and product development assistance for HTI enterprises.-A recruitment system enabling HTI employers to post job opportunities, search for candidates, and screen students for internships and job placements.-An online internship evaluation system that allowed employers to assess student performance and provide feedback.2. Strategic Document for Platform DevelopmentThe project produced a Strategic Document that guided the development and functionalities of the platform. This document was based on validated research and input from HEI and HTI stakeholders, ensuring that the platform met the needs of both sectors.3. Pilot Testing and EvaluationThe platform underwent pilot testing by HEI faculty, students, and HTI employers. This process allowed for feedback and iterative improvements to the platform. The results of the pilot testing were documented in a report on the pilot testing and evaluation of the platform, which guided the final version of the platform and its functionalities.4. General and Analytic Specification DocumentsTo support the technical development of the platform, the project produced the General Specification Document (GSD) and the Analytic Specification Document (ASD). These documents detailed the technological architecture, main characteristics, functionalities, and activities of the platform, providing the foundation for its development.5. Policy Recommendations ReportThe project produced a Policy Recommendations Report for HE authorities. This report identified the issues and problems faced by both HEIs and HTI during the pandemic and proposed digital solutions to enhance collaboration and employer engagement. It was aimed at influencing future policies regarding digital responses to crises similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.6. Platform User ManualA Platform User Manual was developed to provide guidance to all users—HEI faculty, students, and HTI employers—on how to effectively use the platform. The manual included detailed instructions on all functionalities of the platform, from research collaboration to recruitment and professional development.7. Focus Groups and Research ValidationThe project organized five focus groups in different countries to validate and update research findings. These focus groups involved experts from both HEIs and HTI, ensuring that the platform's development reflected the real needs of its users.8. Learning, Teaching, and Training Activities (LTTA)A key part of the project was the Learning, Teaching, and Training Activity (LTTA), where partner staff were trained on how to use the platform. This activity involved workshops and practical sessions, helping participants understand the platform's specifications and functionalities, ensuring its effective use in real-world applications.9. Good Practices ResearchAn online search was conducted to identify and validate good practices that could be incorporated into the platform’s development. The research findings informed the platform’s functionalities, making it a state-of-the-art tool for digital learning, recruitment, and employer engagement.10. Multiplier Events and DisseminationThe project organized five multiplier events across partner countries to disseminate the results and promote the platform to a wider audience. These events engaged local, national, and international stakeholders, sharing best practices and encouraging broader participation in the platform."