Joint Post-Graduate Study-Programme in Ecotourism and Nature Guiding

The NATOUR project is implemented by a consortium of 9 universities – 2 in Colombia, 2 in Chile, 2 in Brazil and 3 in Europe, joined by a consultancy company. 9 non-academic institutions support us as associated partners. Among them are public bodies responsible for tourism sector in the PCs, international unions and associations promoting ecotourism, conservation and sustainable use of the natural resources, ecotourism consultancy and environmental NGO.Needs analysis carried out for this proposal identified a discrepancy between the demand of the ecotourism sector in Colombia, Chile & Brazil for a new type of professional with a wide range of technical, managerial, interpersonal (interpretive) and sustainability skills, and lack of HEI offer of study programmes that could prepare such specialists. The project addresses this gap by setting the objective to develop, validate and implement a joint PC-EU HEIs’ post-graduate study programme in ecotourism and interpretive nature guiding in line with national and sectoral priorities of the PCs and in accordance with EU higher education quality standards.The NATOUR programme lies in the cross field of sustainable management and use of natural resources, protection of ecosystems, ecotourism entrepreneurship and heritage interpretation. It will prepare a new type of graduates who will be able to plan and manage nature-based tourism in a sustainable way, start a business in the ecotourism sector, develop and deliver ecotourism products to customers, and act as interpretive nature guides. This post-graduate course of 30 ECTS will allow for joint PC-EU HEIs’ delivery, student mobility, transfer of credits, joint recognition of learning outcomes and award of qualifications. Students who will complete it successfully will receive a professional Diploma from the PC HEIs and EU Certificate of Interpretive Nature Guide from European Association for Heritage Interpretation.