SIPAS project promotes modernization of tourism education

January 2025 marks the beginning of the project Advancing Sustainability and Technology in Tourism, Hospitality, and Services Studies through Strategic Industry Partnerships (SIPAS) funded by the ERASMUS+ program. It will be developed by a Consortium comprising the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (project coordinator) of Latvia, the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal of Portugal, the Pondicherry University and the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management of India, as well as five business partners.

This project aims to implement and develop new study modules and team-building programmes for university students in India related to sustainable tourism. It will include innovative teaching practices, specifically using tools integrating new information and communication technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. In parallel, laboratories will be set up at partner universities in India to promote sustainability and technological innovation in the tourism and hospitality sector. The planned study modules will include living labs, prototyping, field trips and seminars, as well as partnerships for more sustainable and ecological tourism.

The consortium aims to improve administrative efficiency and the overall learning environment in these institutions, increasing the employability of students and improving practices in the sector by developing the capacities of teams of industry workers in Sustainable Tourism, Hospitality and Services, as well as contributing to EU External Education Policies and improving employment in the sector.

At IPS, the working team is composed by Duarte Xara-Brasil (responsible for the project at IPS), João Pedro Cordeiro, Luísa Cagica Carvalho, Pedro Pardal, Cátia Rodrigues, Helena Martins, Liliana Pitacho, lecturers at the Business and Administration School.

The SIPAS project plans to involve almost 600 students and 20 members of academia, as well as administrative staff, to implement study modules, courses, workshops and virtual reality laboratories in India.

The kick-off meeting for the ‘SIPAS’ project took place in Vidzeme, Latvia, where the consortium met with the aim of outlining and detailing the activities and tasks to be carried out. During the week, the tourism study programmes of the higher education institutions taking part in the project were also unveiled.