Among the traditional areas of international cooperation of the Faculty of Tourism are raising the skills of research and teaching staff in foreign educational institutions; joint training of specialists with foreign partners; international scientific conferences, symposia and workshops; membership in international scientific, educational administrative structures, associations, societies; participation of teachers and students in international programs and foundations; cooperation through twin cities.
The international activity of the Faculty of Tourism is developing in the following areas:
• signing large-scale cooperation agreements with leading Ukrainian and foreign higher education institutions on joint development of methods for solving educational problems;
• establishing and effectively maintaining constant working contacts with foreign embassies, missions of international organizations;
• expansion of contacts in the field of joint implementation of scientific and practical projects (by creating joint creative teams);
• creation of conditions for scientific internship of scientific and pedagogical employees of the Faculty abroad;
• providing conditions for internships and training in exchange programs for students of the Faculty of Tourism and foreign educational institutions;
• internships for students abroad;
• conducting scientific and practical conferences, seminars, trainings, round tables;
• creation of conditions for publishing the results of scientific research in foreign publications and creation of joint publications with partner institutions;
• grant activities.
The result of cooperation of the Faculty of Tourism with educational institutions and foreign organizations was the implementation of a number of international projects, conferences, participation of employees in various international programs funded by governments of leading countries, the opportunity to develop professional experience for students. All this contributes to expanding the borders of international cooperation, increasing the effectiveness of cooperation and strengthening existing ties.
An important area of international cooperation is the implementation of targeted educational projects, because the modernization of the education system aims to train highly qualified, mobile and creative individuals who throughout life have a constant opportunity to master new progressive knowledge. Within the framework of such projects, numerous activities are carried out: conducting joint research and publishing their results; organization of international scientific conferences, symposia, congresses, seminars, round tables; internships for teachers and students; exchanges of teachers for lectures; exchange of scientific and educational publications.
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY OF THE FACULTY OF TOURISM
Higher education in Ukraine has been in a state of continuous improvement and modernization for the last decade. The driving forces of the processes taking place in higher education are its desire to renew and the desire to enter the European educational space.
European society is characterized by a number of features, the most significant of which are:
• multiculturalism;
• mobility, internationalization and globalization;
• the impact of new technologies;
• significant changes in the field of employment;
• the need for professionals capable of lifelong learning;
• the requirement of quality, fairness and efficiency of education.
The success of modern education, as experience shows, is determined primarily by the ability to respond flexibly to changing environments. Society requires a specialist who is able to restructure the content and forms of activity depending on the requirements of the labor market. International cooperation provides such opportunities and is an integral part of the activities of the university and its structural units.
The model of education of the XXI century, declared by UNESCO as the “Century of Education”, is formed by the Faculty of Tourism of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University within the requirements of the conceptual foundations of education development in Ukraine and its integration into the European educational space. Life itself will soon formulate students’ requirements for universities in such a way that their international recognition will become one of the main criteria for popularity among applicants and employers.
The tenth anniversary of the Faculty of Tourism is marked by the search for specific ways and means of international cooperation in all areas of its activities, making practical inclusion in the common requirements, common criteria and experience of scientific and educational work of educational institutions of many foreign countries and has experience of international cooperation
Participants of the TEMPUS program prof. V. Uhryniuk and associate professor G. Gritchuk are presenting training courses, Odessa, 2012
with the USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Greece, Moldova, Georgia, Turkmenistan and other states.
Traditional areas of international cooperation are the following:
raising the qualification level of scientific and pedagogical workers in foreign educational institutions; joint training of specialists with foreign partners; international scientific conferences, symposia and workshops
meetings; membership in international scientific and educational administrative structures, associations, societies;
participation of teachers and students in international programs and foundations;
cooperation with neighbouring cities.
During ten years of work of the Tourism department international activity developed in the following areas:
• signing large-scale cooperation agreements with leading Ukrainian and foreign higher educational institutions on issues of joint development of methods for solving educational problems;
• establishing and effective maintaining constant working contacts with foreign embassies, missions of international organizations;
expansion of contacts in the area of joint implementation of scientific and practical
projects (by creating joint creative teams);
creation of conditions for scientific internship of scientific and pedagogical
employees of the Faculty abroad;
providing conditions for internships and training in exchange programs for students of the Faculty of Tourism and foreign educational institutions;
internship of students of the Faculty abroad;
conducting scientific and practical conferences, seminars, trainings, round tables;
creating conditions for publishing the results of scientific research in foreign publications and the creation of joint partner institutions of publications;
grant activities.
WeNet TEMPUS project, teachers of the Faculty of Tourism together with scientists from the universities of Paderborn (Germany) and Balzano (Italy) at the presentation, Odessa, 2012
The result of cooperation of the Faculty of Tourism with educational institutions and foreign organizations have implemented a number of international projects, holding conferences, participation of employees in various international programs funded by the governments of leading states, the opportunity to develop professional experience for students. All this contributes to the expansion of the borders of international cooperation, increase
effective cooperation and strengthening existing ties.
An important area of international cooperation is the implementation of targeted educational projects, because the modernization of the education system aims training of highly qualified, mobile and creative individuals who throughout life have a constant opportunity to master new progressives knowledge. Within the framework of such projects the multifaceted activity is carried out:
conducting joint research and publishing their results;
organization of international scientific conferences, symposia, congresses,
seminars, round tables; internships for teachers and students; exchanges
teachers for lecturing; exchange of scientific and educational
methodical publications.
International Scientific Conference WEEC 2012, Warsaw
University, speaker – Assoc. N. I Chagrak
The Faculty of Tourism is actively involved in many programs:
• University student exchange program on the basis of bilateral agreements with partner institutions;
• TEMPUS programs;
Scholarship programs named after Fulbright (administered in Ukraine by the office programs named after Fulbright);
• Internship program for young teachers (administered in Ukraine by office programs named after Fulbright);
• Scholarships for research of modern problems (administered in
Ukraine by IREX);
DAAD scholarship programs for teaching and research
in Germany;
• Work & amp; Travel the USA, Work & amp; Travel Canada.
To reform higher education, it is important not only to modernize
educational process, but also to harmonize European educational and worldviews with national heritage and values. Among
a number of practical activities carried out by the Faculty of Tourism
in this direction, priority was given to actions aimed at establishing
and expanding cooperation with single-profile foreign universities
educational institutions, famous scientists, organizations, foundations and other structures related to the financial and economic sphere activities, in order to share experience in organizing scientific and educational
work, development and implementation of joint projects, programs, etc.
It is in this direction that cooperation has developed and deepened
university with such foreign higher education institutions as
Stefan cel Mare University (Suceava, Romania), University
European education (Chisinau, Moldova).
Since 2008 there is a cooperation agreement with Berea College (USA), University of Waterloo (Canada). In 2005, an agreement was signed on cooperation with the State Higher Vocational School in Gorzów Wielkopolska (Poland) in the field of science, culture, conducting international scientific-practical conferences and joint development programs. Establishing contacts with the Academy deserves attention of hotel business and public catering in Poznań (Poland).
International Scientific Conference “Tourism and Regional Development”,
Gorzow Wielkopolski (Poland), 2012
Involvement of teachers of departments and scientists to participate in international ones
projects to enhance international scientific, cultural and
educational cooperation is one of the criteria for effective work
Faculty of Tourism in general. The Faculty of Tourism has established a fruitful one
international cooperation in the field of education and tourism with universities of nine countries,
in particular, there is an internship in inter-university programs
academic exchanges of teachers and students at the State Higher
vocational school in Gorzow Wielkopolski (Poland), Humber
Colleges, University of Waterloo (Canada), Berea College, Dalton
College (USA), Suceava University “Stefan cel Mare” (Romania)
and in other institutions of international cooperation of the university.
Since 2003, about a third of teachers have participated in the programs
academic exchanges, in particular Kutztown University, USA (prof. V. Velikochiy, ass. Chahrak NI), Berea College, USA (Roman Poznankyi , Yaroslav Vovchok), Humboldt University, Germany (Assoc. Prof. Galyna Grytchuk), Jagiellonian University, Poland (Prof. Volodymyr Klapchuk), State Higher Vocational School in Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland (Assoc. Prof. Oleksandra Lysenko) and others. This has significantly improved teaching skills, made it possible to apply the latest teaching.
technologies and techniques.
In 2011, Christopher Miller, Professor of Berea College (USA), scholarship of the Fullbright program lectured at the Faculty which also contributed to the expansion of horizons of international cooperation, enrichment of educational experience.
Students of the Faculty of Tourism in practice in the USA, 2011
During 2010–2012, scientists of the Faculty of Tourism (Velykochy VS,
Uhryniuk VM, Gritchuk GV, Filyuk SM) participated in the project “Network
e-distance education for professional development in the field
of Tourism (Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia) – WeNeT »(158739-TEMPUS-DE-
TEMPUS-JPHES together with scientists from the universities of Paderborn
(Germany), Balzano (Italy), University of Vienna (Austria),
Koszalin Polytechnic University (Poland), 24 universities
Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia.
Within the framework of the project, four distance learning courses were developed and implemented
training – “Cultural Tourism”, “Tourism Organization”, “Technology”
tourist activity “,” Rural, green tourism “. Courses are posted
on the distance learning server (http://wenet.pu.if.ua/).
The implementation of the WeNeT project allowed the teachers of the Faculty of Tourism
to introduce elements of distance learning in the educational process
on full-time and part-time forms of education, to create a system of promotion
qualifications of tourism workers. During 2012 the course
“Cultural Tourism” listened to and passed the final test 184
students of the Faculty of Tourism and 16 employees of the tourism industry; course
“Tourism Organization” – 163 students of the Faculty of Tourism and 16
tourism workers; course “Technology of tourist activity” –
120 students of the Faculty of Tourism and 20 employees of the tourism industry; course
“Rural, green tourism” – 195 students of the Faculty of Tourism and
22 workers in the tourism industry.
Students of the Faculty of Tourism in practice in Turkey, 2012
Extensive and strong international connections are actively used by the Faculty of Tourism to organize and participate in international scientific conferences, seminars and round tables with the leadership of various international organizations, well-known scientists and experts. Such events provide students and research and teaching staff with access to the latest achievements of the European and world scientific community, allow the exchange of experience and apply the knowledge gained in practice. The participation of faculty members in the annual international conferences of the Jagiellonian University, the University of Warsaw, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Turkmenistan, the Appalachian-Carpathian Research Center (USA) has become traditional.
It is worth noting the close cooperation between the Faculty of Tourism and the State Higher Vocational School in Gorzow Wielkopolski in the organization and holding of joint scientific conferences, in particular “Tourism and Regional Development”, which takes place annually in Poland and Ukraine.
In recent years, the participation of the Faculty of Tourism in scientific conferences has intensified and is now one of the strategic directions of its development, which allows to master and successfully use the latest teaching methods, research, information technology as a means of innovative approach to teaching and training modern competitive professionals. The gained experience and knowledge are widely used in the preparation of educational materials, scientific articles, reports, speeches and reports at various levels, defense of dissertations.
An important component of the international activities of the departments of the Faculty of Tourism is the organization and conduct of internships for students abroad. To this end, in 2006 a corresponding cooperation agreement was concluded between the Faculty of Tourism and the Kyiv University of Tourism, Economics and Law. Thanks to her, students of the Faculty of Tourism annually undergo training and production practice in tourism and recreation facilities in Germany, Poland, Greece, Turkey, Great Britain, the USA and Cyprus. Every year about a hundred students of the Faculty are participants in the program “Work and Travel” through travel agencies “Infomist”, “Colosseum”, “Zion”, “Sofia”. Students have internships in 4-5-star hotels in the United States, Turkey, Greece and other countries in positions that correspond to the direction of training and the chosen specialty.
Students of the Faculty of Tourism in practice in Germany, 2012
According to the agreement on cooperation with the Association of employees of educational institutions of Ukraine of tourism and hotel profile from July 19, 2011 students of the Faculty of Tourism have an internship in the summer at the tourism industry in countries with highly developed service infrastructure (such as Greece, Germany and Turkey). in order to learn about the scale of the tourism and hospitality industry, mastering operating systems and processes, gaining practical experience. The objects of practice are travel companies, hotel enterprises and other institutions related to the organization and provision of tourist services, organization of recreation and entertainment. Industrial practice of students abroad in the IV semester is determined by the structural relationship with the subjects of vocational training “Recreational complexes”, “Technology of tourism”, “Technology of hotel business”, “Sports tourism”, in the VI semester – “Organization of recreational services “,” Organization of food services “,” Organization of transport services “, in the VIII semester -” Organization of animation services in tourism “,” Organization of excursion services “.
The selection of students for internships abroad is carried out on a competitive basis – based on the results of an interview in English, German or Russian and the level of their academic success.
Interns work 5-6 days a week for 8 hours, and in their free time have the opportunity to go on excursions to the nearest resorts and historic centers. Upon completion of the internship, students receive a certificate indicating the duration of the internship and position.
In Greece, the practice is in accordance with cooperation agreements between the Faculty of Tourism, Kyiv University of Tourism, Economics and Law and the Faculty of Technology of Serres and the Alexandria Faculty of Technology in Thessaloniki. Practice bases are 4-5-star hotels located on the mainland (in Halkidiki) and island (Crete, Rhodes, Samos, Corfu, Peloponnese, Kos, etc.) parts of Greece.
In Germany, students have internships in various departments of hotels: departments of registration, service, sales, animation, Spa, beauty salons, waiters, bartenders, kitchen workers, maids, porters.
In Turkey, the practice takes place in the spring-summer period (May-October) and lasts from 4 to 5.5 months. Students master the profession of transferman and guide in the companies “TEZ TOUR” and “IATI”.
In accordance with the agreement with the Colosseum LLC, students of the Faculty learn about the scale of the US tourism industry, undergo internships in hotels, restaurants and amusement parks of the above-mentioned leading tourist country.
For comparison, we present the dynamics of international cooperation in the field of training and production practice of students of the Faculty of Tourism by years:
• 2007-2008 academic year: USA – 27 people;
• 2008-2009 academic year: USA – 22 people, Greece – 10 people, Turkey – 18 people, Canada – 4 people;
• 2009-2010 academic year: USA – 19 people, Greece – 18 people, Turkey – 13 people;
• 2010-2011 academic year: USA – 23 people, Greece – 14 people, Turkey – 13 people, Germany – 11 people;
• 2011-2012 academic year: USA – 12 people, Greece – 16 people, Turkey – 25 people, Germany – 7 people;
• 2012-2013 academic year: USA – 18 people, Greece – 16 people, Turkey – 52 people, Germany – 5 people.
Since 2005, the Faculty of Tourism has had a Department of Foreign Languages and Regional Studies for in-depth study of English, German and Polish for professional purposes, which allows more than 50 students to participate in international youth exchange programs and internships in Poland, Germany and the USA.
In April 2013, the Faculty of Tourism of the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University and the Academy of Hotel Business and Catering in Poznan (Poland) signed a cooperation agreement under which students will have the opportunity to obtain a higher European education at the Master’s level in Hotel business and public catering “and” Organization and maintenance of tourist traffic “. Thus, after graduation, students will receive master’s degrees of the state standard of the Academy of Hotel Business and Catering and Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.
Taking into account requirements of the time, first of all the labor market, the international activity of the Faculty of Tourism will be further carried out and developed at the following levels:
• conceptual;
• organizational and methodological;
• semantic;
• communication.
The development of the common European educational space requires, to a large extent, scientific and analytical understanding and conceptual substantiation of this process, first of all, by specialists-teachers, politicians, financiers, and managers.
At the semantic level, it is important to introduce interdisciplinary European integration courses into the curriculum as a mandatory component. As far as the impact of new technologies changes significantly the European present and causes serious changes in the field of employment, information training occupies one of the leading places. At the communication level, it is important to create conditions for communication at the inter-institutional and interpersonal levels. It is about providing opportunities to participate in various international projects, as well as creating conditions for online communication. Willingness to be mobile in response to globalization is the preparation of students to study and work in Europe through a sufficient level of foreign language proficiency, which is one of the first conditions for entering the European educational space.
Meeting of the Vice-Rector for Research, Professor Andriy Vasyliovych Zagorodniuk, Director of the NATO Center, Associate Professor Oleg Mykhailovych Bilous and Director of the Faculty of Tourism, Professor Volodymyr Stepanovych Velykochyy with the Rector of the Academy of Hotel Business and Catering Roman David Tauber.
In determining the prospects for the development of international activities of the Faculty of Tourism, it is necessary to achieve a qualitatively new level.
In view of the current realities, the Faculty will continue to shift the emphasis of its work on establishing international contacts towards the development of bilateral relations with foreign partners. This involves the search for foreign partner universities on the principle of common scientific interests and opportunities.
The faculty will intensify the work on the implementation of already concluded agreements, expanding the areas of cooperation.
Since one of the classic and most convincing indicators of success of the international activities of the educational institution is training foreign students, the Faculty will plan to attract foreigners to study and create appropriate conditions for this.
A serious factor in the success of the organization of international activities is the development of foreign language communicative competence of teachers and students, so the Faculty will expand the conditions and encourage the study of foreign languages.
One of the urgent problems is the use of international activities as a means of “fundraising” – the third source of funding – through the use of international organizations and obtaining grants for scientific and technical assistance. The faculty will continue to work on attracting international grants and scholarships.
The Faculty of Tourism of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University has sufficient personnel, scientific-pedagogical and material-technical potential, which is able to ensure equal partnership in cooperation with foreign colleagues.