The Tourism Education and Skills Working Group to seek input from wider travel industry on new training options for young people
The
Tourism
Education
and
Skills
Working
Group,
which
is
looking
at
the
challenges
around
post-16
education,
met
on
12
September
to
discuss
the
next
steps
in
trying
to
secure
an
alternative
qualification.
The
Group
was
formed
back
in
April
2023
with
the
intention
of
proactively
shaping
future
educational
pathways
in
the
travel
and
tourism
industry.
This
is
following
the
Government’s
decision
to
continue
with
its
wider
education
reform
plans
–
including
the
introduction
of
T-levels
–
which
will
see
all
current
travel
and
tourism
courses
at
level
3,
in
England,
defunded
from
September
2026.
As
no
T–level
is
planned
for
travel
and
tourism,
effective
replacement
training
courses
are
essential
to
help
ensure
access
to
the
travel
industry
for
younger
people.
This
is
what
the
working
group
is
looking
at,
and
at
the
latest
meeting
the
Group
agreed
a
set
of
core
themes
that
would
need
to
be
covered
by
future
level
3
travel
and
tourism
qualifications
to
best
prepare
students
for
further
study
or
to
begin
their
careers
in
the
industry.
The
next
steps
will
involve
a
series
of
industry
workshops
to
be
held
before
the
end
of
the
year,
seeking
views
and
input
on
the
themes.
Conclusions
will
then
be
provided
to
those
educational
providers
developing
replacement
courses
to
those
due
to
end
in
September
2026.
Participants
in
the
workshops
will
also
be
invited
to
take
part
in
activities
to
demonstrate
the
industry
demand
that
exists
for
the
courses,
which
is
a
vital
part
of
obtaining
approval
for
new
courses.
There
will
also
be
opportunities
for
the
industry
to
engage
directly
with
educational
providers
as
they
put
the
course
curriculums
together
early
next
year.
Vicki
Wolf
ABTA
Head
of
Education
and
Career
Development
said: “This
is
a
real
opportunity
for
the
travel
and
tourism
industry
to
shape
the
future
of
level
three
skills
training
for
the
sector
and
it
is
fantastic
to
see
such
enthusiasm
and
a
collaborative
approach
from
across
the
travel,
tourism
and
hospitality
industries.”
Claire
Steiner
Director
of
the
Institute
of
Travel
and
Tourism
said: “Myself
and
the
other
members
of
the Tourism
Education
and
Skills
Working
Group
held
a
very
productive
meeting
last
week
with
informed
and
enlightening
input
from
a
wide
range
of
experts
across
the
industry.
Next
steps
will
involve
all
of
us
going
out
to
our
individual
memberships
seeking
their
input
in
a
series
of
workshops
and
I
would
encourage
all
areas
of
the
sector
to
take
part
as
your
views
and
experience
will
be
invaluable
in
helping
to
shape
new
education
courses.”
John
Garside
from
Sutton
Coldfield
College,
part
of
BMet,
said: “I
continue
to
be
excited
and
inspired
by
the
collaboration
with
all
members
of
the
The
Tourism
Education
and
Skills
Working
Group
as
we
look
to
negotiate
the
changes
to
level
3
Travel
and
Tourism
qualifications.
The
aspiration
is
we
are
able
to
continue
to
provide
industry
recognized
qualifications
that
provide
pathways
into
Higher
Education
and
are
rewarding
to
our
future
students.”
Further
details
will
be
released
in
due
course
and
businesses
interested
in
taking
part
in
the
workshops
should
contact
their
trade
body
–
ABTA,
the
BTA,
or
UKHospitality
and
UKinbound
–
or
through
the
other
organisations
involved
in
the
Travel
and
Skills
Working
Group,
which
include
ANTOR
and
the
ITT.
