Participants included Assistant Professor Dr. Orawit Tinnukool, Acting of the Dean to International Collaboration and Fundraising of the College of Arts, Media and Technology; Assistant Professor Dr. Yuthasak Chatkaewnapanon, Head of the Department of Tourism, Faculty of Humanities; Associate Professor Dr. Dr.Pratana Jaiphong, Director of the College of Lifelong Education; and Assistant Professor Dr. Pattarraporn Khuwuthyakorn, as Project Manager.

The training, titled “Training of Trainers Programme (ToTs) on Curriculum Development for Sustainable Tourism,” was held under the INNO4Tourism project, funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program within the Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) Action framework. This initiative aims to enhance and modernize the workforce in Thailand and Lao PDR’s tourism and service industries by promoting collaborative mechanisms between the business sector and higher education institutions through teaching and learning activities. Chiang Mai University’s participation in the project includes contributions from its College of Arts, Media and Technology, Faculty of Humanities, College of Lifelong Education, and Faculty of Education.

The ToT program aims to build university staff capacity in sustainable tourism curriculum development, enhancing essential skills for graduates entering the workforce, including IT, green skills, and entrepreneurial skills. This effort is part of Chiang Mai University's broader initiative to strengthen its “Career Counseling Center” or “The Career Office,” aligning with a holistic approach to career development (Holistic Career Services) and fostering a pilot University-Business Cooperation Mechanism (UBC Mechanism).

During the training, Chiang Mai University representatives presented findings from a study on “Overview of the Needs and Challenges of Skills Gaps in Thailand’s Tourism and Service Industry Workforce,” allowing participants to engage in in-depth discussions and knowledge exchange with faculty from Southeast Asia and European Union universities. The program also featured lectures on topics such as the role of higher education in Thailand’s tourism sector, sustainable tourism practices, the potential of artificial intelligence in higher education, and pathways to developing sustainable tourism curricula at the international level.

Additionally, activities for exploring future project collaborations were conducted, focusing on European Commission funding opportunities and establishing student and staff exchange programs.

For more updates and information, please visit:

Website: http://inno4tourism.eu/

http://coe.camt.cmu.ac.th

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/inno4tourism

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/inno4tourism/

Reported by ARR