Sharing experience: making European projects really work

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Sharing experience making European projects
really work!

• Pete Hodgson
• Vice President EfVET
• Rosaleen Courtney, NRC

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• Aims of pilot project
• To help SMEs develop sustainable rural tourism
  plans
• To build on best practice across Europe
• To build skills (particularly IT) in order to
  implement plans

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Transrural Partners
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Responding to user needs

• Training needs research analysis
• Questionnaire with follow-up
• Database of 650 establishments
• Sector reports
• Links with SW Tourism Task Force
• Involvement of end-users key players in
  Trans-national meeting workshop

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End user involvement
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Use of Thematic Guide 1

• Guide as a basis
• Adapted to SME needs
• Activities within text
• Case studies in appendix for reference

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Adapting to user needs

• Added sections on
• - using IT e-commerce
• - local trends
• - building your plan
• - customer service
• - Marketing strategy
• - Presenting your plan
• - Time planning

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Blended learning

• 4 Workshops networking/external speakers
• Self-study - explorative questions analysis
• Newsletters to encourage communication
  maintain motivation
• Individual project presentations with feedback

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Student feedback

• All students felt that their expectations had
  been met that the quality of the course was
  high
• 70 preferred face-to-face learning rather than
  distance learning
• Networking was the key benefit

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Tutor evaluation 1

• Students very enthusiastic and motivated to learn
• Networking clearly a benefit to all helped to
  build confidence motivation
• Individual presentations of plans provided a
  focus and helped to assess learning
• Newsletters between workshops helped to encourage
  communication maintain motivation

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Tutor evaluation 2

• Recruitment of students a challenge busy, small
  businesses!
• Time a key challenge for participants
• Higher level of IT literacy than expected
  although some issues with broadband

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Key success factors

• End user involvement from outset throughout
  programme
• Importance of regular communication feedback
• Regular internal external evaluation
• Flexibility depending on end-user group
• Focus on end product relevant to end-user e.g.
  business plan for Trans-Rural
• Networking

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A feeling of achievement