The Future of Education

In a context of unprecedented dynamics and rapid changes, Higher Education Institutions face the challenges of adaptation, and the need to anticipate and be prepared for the future.  Despite the inherent uncertainty of the future, one can be sure that soft skills will play a critical role for the future generations in many industries, including Tourism and Hospitality. Soft skills are crucial for talented professionals, along with technical (hard) skills, and are increasingly commonplace in job descriptions, indicating that many employers recognize their importance, not only as employability criteria, but also for their businesses’ performance and competitiveness. However, and despite the recognised importance of soft skills, it seems there is a gap between what market needs and what European Higher Education Institutions with Tourism degrees actually offer.  Traditionally, the curricula of HEI’s in Tourism has been mostly narrowed to teaching and learning of hard skills and when soft skills are contemplated, the approach is limited.  European HEI’s are, therefore, required to contribute to graduates who are able to respond to a continuously changing and challenging workplace. Thus, the challenges of HEI’s for the future are related to the development of new learning opportunities and to the implementation of innovative teaching and learning  methodologies, including the development of soft skills into higher education curricula, in strong cooperation with businesses, as they provide learning opportunities in the “real” work context, enhancing skills of future and currently working staff.
This paper aims at presenting the context of a research process in Portugal, based on a mixed methods approaches, including secondary data analysis, interviews to tourism businesses stakeholders, and questionnaires to students. Results highlight the need of greater focus on soft skills and on close collaborative interaction with stakeholders and community facilitating the entry of students  to labour market. It is also an objective to discuss the role of innovative teaching methodologies which are already being put into practice by some Portuguese HEI’s in the specific context of Tourism and Hospitality industries

Keywords: Soft Skills, Tourism and hospitality, learning methodologies, collaborative approach;

References:
[1] Ananiadou, K., & Claro, M. (2009). 21st Century skills and competences for new millennium learners in OECD countries. Paris
[2] European Commission (2012). Education and Training 2020 Work programme Thematic Working Group 'Assessment of Key Competences. Brussels
[3] Wilks, D., and Hemsworth, K., (2011). Soft skills as key competencies in hospitality higher education: Matching demand and supply. Tourism & Management Studies, I7, pp. 131-139.