Developing skills for tourism and hospitality for the British Council
Summary
Developing an emerging tourism economy requires a skilled workforce. This means ensuring standards of local education are sufficient to fulfil the skills requirements of employers, if the sector is to successfully meet the growing needs of the country’s visitors.
Uzbekistan is a Central Asian nation and former Soviet republic. The Uzbek government wanted to carry out a review of the country’s vocational education curriculum to ensure that it was fit for purpose for the needs of the future. Working with the British Council a range of stakeholders comprising the Ministry for Higher and Specialised Secondary Education, UzbekTourism,
Uzbek Chambers of Commerce and the professional associations in hospitality and tourism examined how the Sector Skills model, used widely in the UK, could be applied to meet the government’s needs. The partners mapped the demands of the tourism industry against how the current education system was performing and considered how to manage any gaps.
Our first task was to develop the methodology for labour market research and skills needs analysis with our team in Uzbekistan. We were then able to complete the research phase and interpret the data.
The data gave us a clear idea of where the problems were and how we might establish a strong and lasting partnership through which solutions could be delivered. Over the next four years this partnership developed national occupational standards for travel and tourism, a new curriculum and diagnostic tools for delivery.
People 1st’s methodology was also used to develop education and teaching materials for use in the education system alongside a training programme for the development of the teaching staff who will implement the new materials.
The initial pilot of the new travel and tourism curriculum was launched in September 2015 in four Colleges across Uzbekistan. Training in assessment has been provided for the teachers and continuing professional development delivered to senior staff at the institutions.
In addition the employer engagement strand is focusing on the setting up of the Sector Skills Organisation to take forward a skills action plan that aims to address the ambitions for the economy, education and tourism. This will be a multi-partner approach offering a national policy platform for employers to engage with the vocational education system.
“Through the expert guidance and support of People 1st, a vocational curriculum for tourism has been introduced that will create better opportunities for young people, promote the country and enable a professional and innovative tourism offer for the future in Uzbekistan.”
Mr. Rakhmat Rustamov
Deputy-head of State Standards Department, Centre for Specialised Secondary Education of Uzbekistan
