Electronic Newsletter 2
Introduction
WITH: Boosting Women Entrepreneurship Education in Tourism and Hospitality in Sub-Saharan Africa, co-funded by the European Union, is a project implemented by a consortium of African and European organisations: Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum – AWIEF (South Africa); Seville Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation (Spain); International Consulting and Mobility Agency – INCOMA (Spain); Centro Studi e Iniziative Europeo – CESIE (Italy); Equip Consulting Group (Malawi); and Gift Women Link Foundation (Uganda).
WITH is a two-year initiative that aims to skill and empower a new generation of climate and sustainability conscious women intrapreneurs, entrepreneurs and business owners to succeed in the tourism and hospitality industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Empowering VET Trainers for Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality: WITH Project’s Capacity-Building Programme Implementation
The WITH project has reached an important milestone with the implementation of the Capacity-Building Programme for VET trainers in May 2024. The Capacity-Building aimed to equip trainers with new pedagogical methods to deliver high-quality vocational education that meets the evolving needs of the tourism and hospitality sector. It has been implemented via digital platforms and the WITH Knowledge Virtual Centre, a section hosted inside the WITH website where participants can freely access the training content at any time.
It has combined self-study with synchronous and asynchronous learning activities to provide a flexible and engaging educational experience over 4 weeks. The training materials included 10 detailed modules, presentations, mentorship sessions and interactive content tailored to the specific needs identified in previous project phases.
The Capacity Building Programme included the following topics:
1. Personal Growth and Motivation
2. Foundation of Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality
3. Initiative and Project Planning
4. Online Marketing for Sustainable Tourism
5. Financial Management for Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality
6. Dealing with Uncertainty and Risk Management
7. Effective Collaboration and Communication
8. Digital Skills and Online Collaboration
9. Wellbeing and Self-Care
10. Critical Thinking and Sustainability Values
2.1 Main conclusions and impact
Following one of the project objectives, demand-oriented and experiential learning, the Capacity-Building has provided trainers with insights into sustainable development and sustainable tourism and hospitality, ensuring they can deliver relevant and up-to-date training to their students. The Capacity-Building also addressed gender-specific challenges by focusing on strategies that empower young women to become successful entrepreneurs and business owners.
Trainers were introduced to teaching methodologies that prioritise hands-on, practical learning experiences over theoretical instruction, fostering a more dynamic and effective learning environment. The implementation of the Capacity-Building Programme marks a pivotal step towards achieving the goals of the WITH project, empowering VET trainers with enhanced skills and knowledge, enabling a new generation of women to thrive in the tourism and hospitality industry, driving sustainable development and economic growth in the region.
