Partners

Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC – TIDES)

The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) brings together a modern approach and decades of international experience. The ULPGC is recognized as a Campus of International Excellence, and a leading university in e-learning by the Spanish Ministry of Education. It is worth noting that The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is affiliate member of United Nations World Tourism Organization UNWTO. It also develops an intense work in the field of development cooperation, with the achievement of five UNESCO Chairs. Furthermore, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria belongs the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) through the observatory of the Canary Islands. INSTO is a network of tourism observatories monitoring the economic, environmental and social impact of tourism at the destination level. The initiative is based on UNWTO’s long-standing commitment to the sustainable and resilient growth of the sector through measurement and monitoring, supporting the evidence-based management of tourism. This network of 31 observatories (15 in Asia Pacific) allows access to a specialized network in the region. It also has scientific and technological parks (PCT) that dynamize the transfer of R+D+I results to the communities in the area, as well as for the creation of technology-based enterprises. The ULPGC integrates 161 research groups and 9 University Institutes, which carry out an important research activity and lead 300 research and innovation projects.

The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria holds the 1st and only UNESCO Chair in Tourism Planning and Sustainable Development (PTyDS). In consonance with UNESCO’s priorities and its strategic Programs, the Objectives and Goals of Sustainable Development (ODS, UN), as well as with the cooperation of other UNITWIN Chairs and Networks, the UNESCO Chair in Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development at ULPGC, aims to cooperate with the social, economic, environmental and cultural development involved in sustainable tourism, particularly in local communities in developing countries.

The UNESCO chair in Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development arises after 25 years of experience holding the UNESCO Chair in Tourism Planning and Sustainable Development at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, operational since the creation of the Program in May 1991. Now, over 25 years, we understood the necessity of its adaptation and relaunch, honouring the effort and outstanding dedication of hundreds of professors, researchers and support staff of the ULPGC and its partners, which have permitted very important achievements during these years of work. We strengthen the commitment and effort of the university community, civil society organizations and people involved, in accordance with UNESCO’s values, in order to link global communities in the areas of education, science, culture and communication, approaching the aspects of relationship between people and the environment, for a sustainable development of tourism, which has a directimpact on the social and economic welfare of populations.

The University Institute of Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development (TIDES) is an international leader research center in Tourism & Hospitality, whose mission is to develop highly competitive research, conduct innovative projects, form part of leading international research networks and promote the transfer of knowledge to tourism sector, academia and society. TIDES brings together the expertise and leadership of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) in the tourism field with top professionals from tourism global brands and destinations, creating thought-provoking dialogue and driving the science and best practice of tourism sector forward.

About its mission, the Institute has an international focus and is a multi-disciplinarian entity for research, innovation and coordination that provides a place for the exchange of expertise in the tourism, economics, environment and in general, sustainable development sectors, generating benefits and solutions for socioeconomic progress at a local, regional and global level.

The Tides Institute is truly aligned with Sustainable Development Goals, as they are in the DNA of our center. In fact, it holds the 1st and only UNESCO Chair in Tourism Planning and Sustainable Development (PTyDS) of the University of Las Palmas, which is focus on the contribution of tourism to generate economic and social welfare for destination societies, by considering the preservation of natural, social, cultural and historical values of the societies involved, as well as the participation and implication of the same in the planning and growth process. Moreover, it leads climate change transformation with a project, Soclimpact, funded by the European Union to help policy makers to deal with impact chains and cost-benefit analysis of potential strategies.

Tides researchers have accumulated a great experience in working with destinations and communities for developing innovative environmental and cultural products, developing skills in the local communities for a better future, creating new jobs and transforming tourism. The research team is cited in the most prestigious international research journals and the institution occupies a very competitive position at national, European and worldwide levels in the most important ranking tables in the Tourism & Hospitality field. Particularly, University of Las Palmas is ranked 1st of the European Union on the Shanghai Ranking’s 2019 in Hospitality & Tourism Management and Tides Institute has contributed to the University of Las Palmas becoming Spain’s, Europe’s and Ibero-America’s leading University in Hospitality & Tourism Management research.

During the last 6 years Tides researchers have published more than 60 papers in top ranked journals and have successfully completed around 70 international cooperation projects, which have linked tourism and sustainable development as a transversal axis. The main European funded research programs are POCTEFEX, MAC and H2020 from the EU.

More than 70 multidisciplinary researchers and professionals organised into 6 specialised divisions contribute with their dedication, experience and knowledge to the leadership of the institute.

Divisions:

Training and Development Cooperation.

The objectives of this division are as follows: i) contribute to the strengthening and excellence of higher education in tourism in developing countries; ii) contribute to the improvement of tourism management in developing countries; iii) promote the role of tourism as an active agent of poverty mitigation; iv) develop the participation of Tides in networks of academic excellence, specifically oriented towards empowering the role of tourism in the mitigation of poverty, such as the network PRO-POOR TOURISM and v) to stimulate the role of tourism in the rural territories and communities, by combining the conservation of culture and traditional habitats with an improvement in living conditions of the local populations.

Laboratory of Design and Innovation for Tourism

The aim is to become a world leading research center specialised in the behaviour of the different agents that form part of the tourism sector (tourists, companies in the sector, public sector), thus making the process of national and international research in tourism and sustainable development related sciences more effective and promoting the dissemination and permanent review of expertise. Our aim is to also provide innovative solutions to problems that require the study of human behaviour and decisions to contribute to the development of the tourism sector by taking into consideration the sustainability of the industry and of the host societies in different places in the world.

Quantitative Methods and Statistical Analysis

This division is formed by a group of interdisciplinary researchers all of whom have ample experience and have made significant contributions to the quantitative techniques applied to the area of Economics and Business. The unit has, as a general objective, the quantitative modelling of tourism and of sustainable economic development, aiming to cover the widest spectrum of statistical and operative research techniques to this end.

Territorial Strategy for Tourism

The most recent contributions to this division cover tourism in general, but more specifically so, the reconversion of obsolete tourism areas, both from the functional and morphological aspects of the urbanisation itself, as well as the technological innovation of the different accommodation options. The resources for these studies come from the Government Authorities (Council for Tourism and Transport, the Tourism Board of Gran Canaria, Consortium for the Renovation of the tourism areas of the South of Gran Canaria…) and in some cases, from the Kingdom of Morocco, as has been with the case of Agadir.

Business and Tourism Management

The areas covered by this division among others are i) the process of externalization of activities, ii) the integrated management systems for Quality and Environment iii) the development of scales for measuring client satisfaction iv) strategic management of information resources. Our short- and medium-term objectives are i) consolidate the division of business and management by establishing close collaboration with the rest of the division for the development of research projects, ii) actively participate in the development and delivery of the future post graduate programs offered by Tides and iii) transfer our knowledge to the society and in particular to the business people and groups involved in the tourism industry.

Marketing and Tourism Development.

This division undertakes its activities in two main areas: Tourism Marketing and Tourism Development. The division is currently working on the application of neuromarketing techniques in the tourism industry, with special emphasis on the digital environment and the analysis of the tourist experience. Its application is also focused on sustainability (social, economic and environmental), image, well-being and security, understanding the entire process of the tourist’s journey and its relationship with the destination.

Turismo de Gran Canaria

General information on the institutional, historical and economic aspects of the entity.

Turismo de Gran Canaria is an autonomous public organization, created by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, whose main mission is to protect the tourist interests of the island, the basis of the economic development of Gran Canaria.

The activity of Turismo de Gran Canaria is developed under the commitment to maintain Gran Canaria as a first class tourist destination; directing, planning and developing policies in accordance with the changes in the markets.

The functions entrusted to Turismo de Gran Canaria go beyond the tasks of a destination marketing organization, and also include the administrative management of a sector, tourism, on which the island’s economy is growing. The lines on which the tasks of Turismo de Gran Canaria are structured are, therefore, the external promotion of Gran Canaria, the continuous improvement of the destination and the public management of the island’s tourism system.

Turismo de Gran Canaria focuses its work on direct and active collaboration with the island’s business sector, as well as with the different levels of the island, regional and national administration.

In the area of external promotion, the basis of our activity, we develop the activities of a destination marketing agency, with actions for a multitude of markets. Likewise, we work in the permanent development of the different products that make up our offer and in the tourism improvement projects that are generated in the island, in coordination with other public administrations.

Turismo de Gran Canaria is also the company in charge of managing the administrative files related to the island’s tourist establishments, a function that allows us to monitor the situation of the sector and to know the changes that originate from the destination’s activity.

Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism ASBL (NECSTOUR)

NECSTouR, the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism, is the voice of European regions committed to sustainability – economic, social and environmental – as a crucial driver of destination competitiveness. The network brings together 36 Regional Authorities competent in Tourism (NUTS I and II)1 and 30 academic organizations, sustainable tourism business associations and networks, representing 20 European countries ensuring a wide regional outreach and impact.

NECSTouR represents the 80% of the European Top 20 regions in terms of number of nights spent in tourist accommodation, working with its Regional Tourism Authorities since 2007 in strengthening their capacity to lead communities in delivering smart and sustainable growth through the visitor economy. Therefore, NECSTouR deploys an interregional cooperation strategy (2019 -2021) to learn, benchmark and cooperate on how regional tourism policies tackle the five trends of the sustainable tourism of tomorrow: Smart Destinations, the Socio-Cultural Balance, Skills and Talent, Safety and Resilience, Statistics and Measurability: the NECSTouR “5S of the Sustainable Tourism of Tomorrow”.

The European Union’s main priorities such as the European Green Deal and the Digital Age, as well as the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals are embedded in NECSTouR interregional cooperation strategy and implemented through:

i) the network’s participation in European:

  • Initiatives: as the “Digitalization and Safety for Tourism Partnership” and its investment project idea “Tourism of Tomorrow LAB” one of the thematic Industrial Modernization platforms of the European Commission S3 and the “Better Places to Live Better Places to Visit” declaration aiming to establish a sociocultural balance in European tourism destinations.
  • Projects such as: MED Sustainable Tourism Community, CHARM (COSME), MITOMED + (Interreg MED), Civitas Destinations (Horizon 2020), Star Cities (Interreg Europe)

ii) the NECSTouR programme “Driving behavioural change for European sustainable destinations through trans-regional cooperation” which supports tourism regional governance by linking local, regional and European policies through participatory policy workshops and capacity building sessions on topics related to: EU funding for tourism, data for policy and business intelligence, tourism socio-cultural balance, sustainable certification, sustainable product development and consumption, sustainable mobility, plastic reduction, among others.

NECSTouR is committed behind the climate goals as an organisation as it is reflected on NECSTouR’s Position paper “A European Agenda for A Sustainable Visitor Economy: Making Europe a Better Place to Live and Visit Through Interregional Cooperation”.

NECSTouR and COVID-19 Pandemic o KNOWLEDGE SHARING and BUILDING:

Since the start of the pandemic, NECSTouR strategy is at the service of the COVID19 recovery of the EU Tourism destinations and emphasises the urgency of boosting this recovery by fostering their twining transition: Green and Digital. NECSTouR work deployed during the past months – reacting to COVID-19 effects on the tourism ecosystem and needs from the destinations needs.

  • ENSURING REGIONAL – EU DIALOGUE:
    • Exchanges with EU institutions – some participated to NECSTouR webinars: DG GROW, DG MOVE, DG REGIO, EP
    • Participation to the Weekly EU tourism and COVID-19 informal working group
    • Bilateral meetings with Cabinets of Commissioner Timmermans and Commissioner Breton
  • TOPICs related to the different phases of the crises: i) Immediate measures, ii) Preparing summer season, iii) tourism regional.

Recovery Plans:

  • “TOURISM AND MOBILITY: SUSTAINABILITY, INNOVATION AND RESILIENCE” 09/07/20.
  • “GREEN, DIGITAL AND SDGS: BUILDING THE EUROPEAN TOURISM AGENDA 2050 FOR SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY 15/06/20.
  • “DRIVING BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE THROUGH INTERREGIONAL COOPERATION: FOSTERING RESILIENT DESTINATIONS THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY AND DIGITALISATION” 14/05/20.
  • “RESCUING THE REGIONAL TOURISM ECOSYSTEMS FROM CRISIS” 24/04/2020
  • “COVID-19 AND EU TOURISM DESTINATIONS: IMPACTS AND RESPONSES” 23/03/2020
  • Scale up regional recovery plans at EU level ensuring bottom-up approach
  • Mainstream tourism in the use of the EU Recovery Fund and the upcoming MFF 2021-2027

Currently, NECSTouR is focusing on the regional Recovery plans for tourism and monitoring proactively the EU Recovery Fund and MFF 2021-2027 to:

NECSTouR list of services for EU Tenders:

  • UNWTO: NECSTouR is Board of the UNWTO Affiliated Members since 2019
  • EU institutions: NECSTouR has strong experience in working jointly with the EU institutions: with different Directorates Generals of the European Commission like DG GROW, EAC, REGIO, MARE, CLIMA, MOVE; with the European Parliament, mainly with TRAN Committee and with the Committee of the Regions (CoR) with the NAT Commission.
  • European Tourism Manifesto for Growth and Jobs: NECSTouR is signatory organization of the EU Tourism Manifesto for Growth and Jobs and Steering Committee member leading with the Sustainability priority

KNWOLEDGE RAISING and POOL OF EXPERTS:

NECSTouR has a consolidated pool of experts represented by its members: tourism regional authorities, tourism academics and researchers, tourism private sector representatives, sustainable tourism associations, and the NECSTouR Permanent Secretariat per se. The network has more than 12 years of experience on developing and implementing regional tourism models driving the sustainability and competitiveness of the destinations where it is deployed. Some of the tasks can relate to: mapping and collecting good practices, quality checking outcomes, policy recommendation, while ensuring a territorial approach and an effective transferability of the outcomes at territorial level.

MANAGING/LIAISING WITH STAKEHOLDERS

NECSTouR has well stablished alliances with some key European and international tourism related organizations for different purposes such as: advocacy actions, good practices sharing, knowledge building, events organization.

  • European Tourism Association – ETOA: NECSTouR and ETOA signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2018
  • European Travel Commission – ETC: both organizations have a well-established cooperation relation specially in the framework of advocating to position Tourism higher in the EU agenda.
  • Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions – CPMR: both organizations strongly cooperate the framework of EU projects, especially on the MED area and signed in 2019 a MoU
  • European Heritage Alliance 3.3.: NECSTouR became member of the Alliance in January 2018 which enabled the network to strengthen its cooperation with Europa Nostra and the European Cultural Tourism Network – ECTN
  • Tourism digital platforms: AMADEUs, ADARA, MABRIAN, ACTUR

Moreover, NECSTouR is used to cooperate with other sectorial networks such as: POLIS network, European Cycling Federation, Eurocities, EPSI and Europarc Federation.

EVENT ORGANISATION

NECSTouR has been managing the organization of events, focus groups, consortium meetings, capacity building sessions, among other, under the framework of EU projects and tenders since 2012. Moreover, NECSTouR is used to regularly lead and host meetings for NECSTouR members internally as well as with EU institutions and stakeholders

EU BASED OFFICE

NECSTouR having a Brussels Based office can support the partnership with:

  • Liaising easily with the EU institutions to advocate and lobby
  • Hosting and facilitating all types of meetings, working groups needed for the purpose of the study
  • Participating to Brussels based meetings with relevant stakeholders of the interest of the study

European Tourism Association (ETOA)

ETOA is a large travel trade association focused on the European market. Mindful of project KPIs to reach at least 5,000 SMEs and secure at least 250 expressions of interest, ETOA’s size and the breadth of its membership and wider network will help. With over 8,000 qualified European suppliers in its database, a wide audience across social media, and over 100 DMOs and other industry partners who could help multiply communications effort, in addition to the project partners, it is well-placed to ensure the project’s promotional campaign is successful.

Its direct membership model means it has everyday contact with those selling European product worldwide, as well as individual service providers within Europe. During the pandemic, ETOA invested in digital capability in order to deliver online B2B services which, together with its other online resources, has enabled it to maintain active engagement with a wide network of SMEs. It is well placed to target those in a position to benefit from the opportunity presented by this programme and become influential among their peers in market and support its partners throughout this project.

Background

ETOA works with policymakers to enable a fair and sustainable business environment in which European tourism can thrive and grow. With its member-driven community with over 1,200 organisations serving 63 origin markets, it is a powerful voice at local, national and European levels. It plays a central role in the European Tourism Manifesto group, which seeks to build consensus for policy action among Europe’s tourism stakeholders. Our members include destination management organisations (DMOs), tour and online operators, European tourist boards, hotels, attractions, technology companies and other tourism service providers. These range in size from global brands to independent local businesses. We are connected with over 30,000 industry professionals across our social media channels.

ETOA was founded in 1989 as an association for tour operators who sold Europe as a destination in long-haul origin markets. It has evolved since those early days to embrace intra-European and regional operators, online intermediaries, wholesale travel companies and any comercial player who is interested in selling themselves as part of a pan-European product. ETOA offers an unparalleled networking and contracting platform for tourism practitioners, running 8 flagship events across Europe, China and North America that collectively arrange over 50,000 oneon- one appointments every year. ETOA have offices in Brussels and London and representation in Spain, France and Italy.

ETOA’s main activities and project work are summarised below:

  • B2B Workshops |Annual series of B2B networking workshops, primarily in support of European SME tourism businesses, 50,000 B2B meetings facilitated in 2020 (ref: https://www.etoa.org/events/).
  • EU – Partnerships in European Tourism EASME/COSME 2016 030 2017-19 | Project lead – series of events and publications preparing EU SME tourism businesses for engagement with the Chinese and USA markets. Included: market analysis, statistical analysis, stakeholderengagement, partnership building, event management, development of dissemination materials, reporting.
  • Insight Hub including webinar recordings, statistics, opinions and research pieces. Reference: https://www.etoa.org/insight/
  • Digital City Visitor Conference (2016-2019) | Event series for which ETOA entirely owned and managed Ref: https://www.etoa.org/city-fair-conference-2019/
  • Long-Haul Travel Barometer 2019-Present| The Long-Haul Travel Barometers are a series of infographics that provide forward-looking information about short-term travel trends among potential travellers from Brazil, China, Japan, India, Russia and the US. The infographicsshed light on travellers’ preferences, motivations and barriers related to travelling to and within Europe. Reference: https://etccorporate.org/reports/long-haul-travel-barometer-1-2020

Centro Internazionale di Studi sull’Economia Turística (CISET)

CISET, the International Centre of Studies on Tourism Economics, was set up in 1991 by Ca’ Foscari University Venice, the Veneto Regional Government and the Italian Touring Club with the aim to have a research center focused on tourism-related studies.

The approach adopted is based on a strong synergy between research studies and consultancy services and on the Centre experience in tertiary education and management training.

CISET is a member of the Business Council of UNWTO (United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation), a founding member of INRouTe (a network of international experts on Sub-National Measurement and Economic Analysis of Tourism), and, through its staff, member of the Enter Conference Scientific Committee and of BTO – Buy Tourism Online Scientific Board.

The composition of CISET team and its multidisciplinary competences and skills (statistics, tourism economics, tourism management, etc.) meet the technical and professional capacity criteria required by the project. The core of CISET expertise is focused on six key areas:

• Market intelligence and demand analysis (e.g., data collection and management through the application of different methodologies; support to Eurostat, UNWTO, etc. in the field of tourism statistics.; setting up of tourism observatories; market analyses and demand segmentation);

• Innovation technologies (e.g., IT impact on business models; guidelines for integrated information platforms; web users’ profiling also using neuromarketing techniques)

• Business performance analysis and support to SMEs (e.g., analysis of business performance and of key variables for successful management and profitability; support to the creation of business networks; planning of specific training programs for tourism SMEs).

• Tourism impacts, sustainability and responsibility (analysis of tourists’ consumption behaviour and of tourism economic contribution at national, regional and local level; analysis and implementation of systems to assess the sustainability and responsibility of businesses and destinations);

• Destinations, networks and mobility (e.g., identification and analysis of key competitive factors of a tourism destination; monitoring of destination performance; marketing and development plans).

• Culture and Tourism (e.g., demand studies; strategies to enhance and promote attractions; management strategies for cultural sites and art cities).

Regarding in particular business support services/activities to SMEs and start-ups, CISET has been working on these topics since its foundation, both providing consultancy support and training, upon direct request of the business itself, or of business associations, or through action research and training projects sponsored by public bodies. The aspect of management CISET has worked on is wide in scope:

  • Assessing and analysing their performance from the financial point of view (2004 for local business associations and the Veneto Regional Government) and other projects on demand).
  • Defining business development plans implementing process re-engineering, especially regarding the management of introduction of Artificial Intelligence in SMEs, business model innovation.
  • Designing business model innovation.
  • Innovating tourist products.
  • Developing business networks and cluster creation.
  • Start-up development.
  • Managing business succession and transfer of knowledge

Since the 90ies CISET has also been studying the impact of ICT on tourism business and the cutting-edge innovation in the field. In 2015 CISET started working on neuromarketing, particularly applied to tourist website analysis. Since then, it has kept cooperating with a start up the Centre helped creating on this theme, and also assisted destination websites in assessing and re-designing their websites (Bibione, Pisa) and run courses to introduce neuromarketing to consultants and tourism professionals in different areas in Italy.

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Haaga-Helia)

Haaga-Helia (www.haaga-helia.fi/en) is the second biggest university of applied sciences in Finland. Through education, research and development, Haaga-Helia prepares professionals in business and services offering students a versatile choice of studies, opportunities for specialization, high quality education in Finnish and English and wide business networks. The 10 000 students and 600 employees at Haaga-Helia base their activities on highly advanced national and international expertise.

Haaga-Helia’s profile and core competences are in the areas of business development, entrepreneurship, sales and service innovations, digital and creative solutions, and pedagogy.

Offered fields of education are business management, hotel, restaurant and tourism management, information and communication technology (ICT), journalism, modern languages and management assistant training, sports management and VET teacher education for undergraduate programmes. Haaga-Helia offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as a wide offering of complementary training, including the Vocational Teacher Programme (60 credits) and training tailored for companies’ needs.

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences has also educated hospitality experts for almost 50 years, being the first hospitality school in Finland. The hotel-, restaurant and tourism education unit has approximately 1000 students studying hospitality-, culinary-, and tourism management and almost 250 students from bachelor and master programmes graduate annually. The hotel-, restaurant-, and tourism education unit is a member of EuroCHRIE, ICHRIE, American Hotel and Lodging Association, Paul Bocuse Worldwide Alliance and Hotel Schools of Distinction. Haaga-Helia has some 200 international partner institutions throughout the world and each year hosts around 350 exchange students who study in Haaga-Helia.

Auditing

The Finnish Education Evaluation Council (FINEEC) has audited Haaga-Helia’s quality assurance system in April 2010 and Haaga-Helia has passed the auditing acceptably. NB! FINEEC’s report 2010 has been published only in Finnish.

According to the national university political definitions of policy Haaga-Helia was again audited at the beginning of the year 2017. The Audit was organised by The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre FINEEC (former FINHEEC) and the audit team was international. Haaga-Helia passed the audit and received the quality label for six years. The audit report is available in English as well as the audit manual for the second round.

International accreditation

Haaga-Helia has been accepted in February 2011 as a member of AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Our objective is to develop the quality system and the quality so that we will achieve the accreditation of AACSB. The accreditation is important because of the access to partners and cooperation quarters which will ensure the impartiality essential to quality central to Haaga-Helia.

AACSB was established in the United States 1916, and it has more than 500 members in more than 30 countries. The headquarters of the association is in Tampa, Florida. Haaga-Helia was accepted in May 2013 as the member of EFMD (the European Foundation for Management Development). The objective is to get the EQUIS accreditation (EFMD Quality Improvement System) for the business education of Haaga-Helia.

The EFMD was established in 1972 and has concentrated on the accreditation of European universities in earlier times but has extended its operation especially to America and Asia. There are more than 800 members in EFMD (12 members from Finland of which 8 are higher education institutions, a situation in January 2018, the real-time membership register can be seen on the pages of EFMD).

In January 2021 Haaga-Helia’s Hospitality, Tourism and Experience Management Degree Programme was awarded with the first THE-ICE (International Centre of Excellence – Tourism & Hospitality Education) accreditation in Finland. THE-ICE is a global organisation, established in

2004 to promote excellence in tourism, hospitality, events and culinary arts education.

Haaga-Helia has a close relationship with the industry

Haaga Hospitality Campus dates back to 1969 when School of Hotel and Restaurant Management was established in Helsinki. It was the first of its kind in Finland and the initiative came from Hospitality Industry. The School has always been privately owned and works in close cooperation with its Industry partners and other stakeholders. When Universities of Applied Sciences were piloted in Finland 1991, Haaga was first School given this status. The system became permanent in 1993 and again Haaga was the first school given this status and permission to operate as University of Applied Sciences. First UAS Bachelors graduated from Haaga in February 1994. Today Haaga Hospitality Campus as part of Haaga- Helia UAS is the largest higher education provider on Hospitality Industry, offering Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. It is recognized worldwide and member of several international alliances such as I-CHRIE, Hotel Schools of Distinction (HSD) and Paul Bocuse Worldwide Alliance. We are involved in several domestic, European and international projects with our 200 university partners globally. We are particularly strong in foresight thinking, future oriented projects as well as immersive experiences and design thinking. Haaga-Helia has been active in export of education and our latest project was to establish a new design-oriented university level School of Hospitality to Tallinn, Estonia. In our home Institution, we have revised our curriculums in sequence of 5-7 years and are currently preparing to restructure our education model which is perfectly aligned with proposed project.

International train-the-trainer experience in 18 countries

Haaga-Helia UAS has wide experience in international train-the-trainer and international export of education activities. During the last 6 years Haaga-Helia has provided teacher training in adult/vocational level in 18 countries (France, Malta, Estonia, China, Malesia, Indonesia, India,

Nepal, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, South Africa, Saudi-Arabia, Oman, Tunisia, Tanzania). Haaga-Helia ́s approach is a futureoriented understanding of professional pedagogy and the ability to construct working-life relevant education. Everything is based on earnercentred ideology.

Ulysseus – the European University and Haaga-Helia’s AI Hub

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is part of Ulysseus – the European University, alongside with University of Cote d’Azur (France), University of Genoa (Italy), Management Center Innsbruck (Austria), Technical University of Kosice (Slovakia) and the coordinator of the consortium University of Seville (Spain).

As part of its actions, Ulysseus is building an innovation ecosystem, constituting of six Innovation Hubs to solve Research and Development challenges in multidisciplinary. Haaga-Helia is responsible for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub.

EDIH – European Digital Innovation Hub / FAIR

As part of the European Commission’s Digital Europe Programme, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) act as important support systems for businesses and SMEs to respond to the digital challenges they face. Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is part of a Finnish consortium called FAIR, applying to be one of the EDIHs in Europe. FAIR consortium is based on previous Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI), and it withholds significant other Finnish organisations, such as Aalto University, University of Helsinki, University of Oulu and VTT Technical Research Center of Finland.

Haaga-Helia uses AI in curriculum development – Adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in forecasting competence needs

One of the biggest challenges in the design of a work-related curriculum is to make sure that the curriculum is up to date. This represents a challenging task and is difficult to implement in a rapidly changing world, where the competence requirements of companies are evolving quickly, and entire new professions emerge at an increasing speed. Since the fall of 2019 Haaga-Helia has been applying cognitive AI, big data and natural language processing to build real-time understanding of skills, competencies, knowledge and abilities that workplaces seek. This knowledge is visualized as maps that enable us to: 1) understand what skills are needed now and in near future, 2) guide up-to-date curriculum development, 3) advice students on their course selection and 4) gain an understanding to improve the competitive offering of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.

Vast experience in Design Thinking training

Haaga-Helia has vast experience in design thinking training. After being one of the first universities in Scandinavia to start providing formal training on Design Thinking, Haaga-Helia has accumulated extensive understanding and didactical expertise on the topic. Haaga-Helia has trained Design Thinking to approximately 1000 managers and industry professionals.

Finally, LAB8 – Service Experience Laboratory, combines creativity, service companies and learning by development. “We can help you make your business experiential in a manner that best serves your customers. Quick, fun and agile!”

LAB8 consists of eight different sub-areas

As the name suggests, LAB8 consists of eight parts, whose focus is on service and experience design. We conduct trend research, provide evento production services and apply the latest technology. We have particular expertise in the service business as well as phenomena in the tourism, restaurant and hospitality industries.