Given the current influx of visitors as well as development of destinations and attractions in Russia, there has been limited number of institutions that have focused on tourism related curriculum. Overall, capacity building and institutional development in tourism education is a fundamental component for the vitality and sustainability of the industry in Russia. Therefore, the objective of this project is to create a synergistic partnership between the University of Florida (UF) and the State University of Nizhni Novgorod (UNN) to strengthen tourism education, training, research and industry outreach in both institutions.
More specifically, the project will engage in tourism degree curriculum development and pedagogy, faculty and student exchange mobility program, language skills development, and experiential education and service learning projects. In addition, the university partners will engage in collaborative research initiatives and participate in industry outreach via the Center for Tourism Management at UNN, which is likely to be the first university-associated tourism research center.
The partnership is mutually beneficial for both UF and UNN. New curriculum development and on-line delivery will be implemented at both institutions. Service learning projects and field trip for students from both countries will strengthen their understanding of issues pertinent to tourism, hospitality, and destination management, as well as practical applications. Moreover, students will improve their language skills and cultural understanding of the host country. During the faculty mobility program, UF and UNN team will engage to develop, share and partner in teaching methodologies, instructional materials, research initiatives as well as industry outreach activities. It is expected that this partnership will continue beyond the completion of this project.