WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN RURAL WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN RURAL

TOURISMTOURISM

Sustainability ReportSustainability Report

byby

PRISMA Centre for Development StudiesPRISMA Centre for Development Studies

Parnu, September 2012

Objectives

Investigate the feasibility of achieving accreditation of the WERT training package in order to improve the vocational training systems of the participating countries

Consider opportunities for the WERT training package to be used and exploited beyond the end of the project

Feasibility of achieving accreditation

Accreditation Is complex and costly in terms of time and

money Depends on lengthy administrative procedures

and Accredited courses are not free Accredited courses require attendance for some

length of time In some countries accredited adult learning is

under development

Feasibility of achieving accreditation

Pilot participants preferred informal assessment and did not care for a formal qualification

What matters to them is how they can put practical ideas and plans into action

As entrepreneurs they don’t have time to attend long training courses but they are keen to get new ideas and network contacts.

The flexible implementation of the WERT course suited their needs and they had the opportunity to influence the timing and places of the training.

Feasibility of achieving accreditation

Alternative to accreditation integrate the full WERT course or selected

learning units into existing accredited training curricula of VET institutions (partners and others)

Offer the WERT learning content to teachers who constantly need new teaching material and support for their courses on entrepreneurship

Register the WERT course as recognised adult learning with the Ministry of Education’s curriculum register (Estonia)

What type of course?

The WERT course can be used in initial, in-company and adult vocational training.

The entire contents can be incorporated as an across the board module in any course related to entrepreneurship, marketing on-line and business finances.

The course can also be incorporated in supplementary post graduate tourism studies

The course can be used in all sectors involving customer service.

Other opportunities

Cooperation with strategic players – e.g. In Cyprus, Intercollege reached an agreement

with the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI), a non-governmental, non-profit organisation promoting Cyprus .

In Greece, PRISMA established cooperation with the Rural Development Network based at the Ministry for Rural Development, who plan to disseminate the WERT learning package among their Network members (ex-LAG-Development Agencies)

Other opportunities

Promote the WERT networkRural tourism initiatives / business associationsIndividual women entrepreneursDestinet membersOther established networks – e.g. E-learning, ecotourismThe European Rural Development Network – based in Brussels

Other opportunities

Other ideasCreate a women’s cooperative or association to enhance collaboration among women entrepreneurs in rural tourism in a region (Cyprus)Promote quality assurance and destination brandingOffer the WERT learning material not only to other VET institutions, but also to business advisory centres, networks of rural tourism and women entrepreneurs’ associationsTrain the trainers for organisations interested in running the WERT course

Conclusions

The sustainability of the WERT training material can be supported directly and indirectly

Directly, the best way seems to be the inclusion of WERT units or the full course in the curricula of the partner VET organisations and other VET institutions

Indirectly, sustainability can be supported by building the WERT network more widely and expanding the WERT community in Destinet and outside it

Other initiatives, such as encouraging women entrepreneurs associations or promoting quality assurance schemes may contribute positively to the sustainability of WERT products.