Story:
Improving the Ecotourism Sector through Short Course Development
Improving the Ecotourism Sector through Short Course Development
About this Project
Country:
Jamaica, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Belize
Project Type:
Program Development, Institutional Strengthening
Sector:
Hospitality and Tourism
Delivery Format:
In-Person and Virtual
Partners:
Excelsior Community College; Guyana Tourism Authority; University of Belize; Dominica State College; T.A. Marryshow Community College; Sir Arthur Lewis Community College; Nova Scotia Community College; Seneca Polytechnic; Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan); Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
Project Year & Length:
2022-2025; three years–ongoing
The Opportunity
- The rapidly growing tourism sector is an opportunity to improve specific labour skills in Ecotourism.
- The countries needed to invest in the development of a sustainable workforce and Ecotourism sector.
- Caribbean partners were looking to ensure workforce skills were linked to industry needs and focused on student success.
- Caribbean partners were eager to enhance their capacity to successfully deliver short courses related to Ecotourism.
- The Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE-07) Education for Employment (EFE) program, Ecotourism partnership, represented a pathway to support the development of a skilled and sustainable workforce tailored to the needs of the Ecotourism industry.
Our Approach
- Assessed the capacity of Caribbean instructors to teach the new courses.
- Visited and connected with local stakeholders and key industry players.
- Identified and developed short courses
- Worked with local trainers to conduct a self-assessment related to Ecotourism and knowledge related to the short courses.
- Delivered Gender and Curriculum Development sessions to integrate gender-responsive skills into the courses.
- Delivered in-country and virtual train-the-trainers sessions incorporating the use of technology in the classroom.
- Established a partnership engagement model that includes
- Partnership Implementation and Institutional Program Advisory Committees
- Monitoring and evaluation with local industry players.
- Engaging with tourism employers and associations in the country.
Partner Outcomes and Success
- Development of six short courses: Introduction to Ecotourism, Entrepreneurship for Ecotourism, , Principles for Ecotourism Guides, and Green Events.
- Equip participants with enhanced skills needed to succeed in the ecotourism industry, leading to meaningful employment and economic growth.
- Build the capacity of local training institutions to develop and deliver gender-sensitive and environmentally sustainable training programs.
- Foster community engagement and support the development of small businesses within the Ecotourism sector.
- Promote environmental sustainability through eco-friendly practices and education.
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