The consortium included European, Russian and Kyrgyz universities and other organizations
The overall project objective is to improve the university graduate employability in the tourism sector through cooperation between universities and employers and through improving the national qualifications framework in the tourism industry in the Russian Federation and Kyrgyzstan
The project specific objectives are the following:
1. To standardize programs in tourism in the higher education sector in the Russian Federation and Kyrgyzstan by developing a qualifications framework in a changing environment.
2. To introduce procedures and instruments needed to ensure recognition of diplomas issued in the EU member states and partner countries.
3. To strengthen cooperation between the academic community and the community at large and business representatives in order to improve graduate employment.
4. To develop (using common second cycle descriptors) and start offering a modern pilot module-based master degree program in Tourism that is based on a framework of qualifications, has the prescribed learning outcomes and develops competencies identified by the business representatives.
5. To develop quality control procedures in the framework of a project of common interest, and improve the program quality, program content relevance and the degree of harmonization with the EU programs.
6. To divulge information on the project findings and the best practices in the field of higher education in Russia and Kyrgyzstan and to improve informal communication between the university associations and professional associations in partner countries and the EU countries.
7. To ensure sustainability of the new programs developed within the framework of the project after the project work has been completed and improve the program efficiency and effectiveness.
The project arrangements and project findings should contribute to developing the university potential in the partner countries (Russia and Kyrgyzstan), and to developing the higher education system as a whole. The EU countries’ universities transfer their knowledge, experience, and expertise so that the project objectives could be fulfilled.