Learning Portal for on-the-job trainers in tourism
The TTRAIN Tourism Training Course
TTRAIN is a learning model for in-house trainers in the tourism sector. The model provides vocational trainers with an effective tool for training new employees and fellow workers. Moreover, the model raises the pedagogical skills of the learners and encourages them to use creative training methods aimed at adult learning.
TTRAIN was developed and tested in several European countries: Iceland, Finland, Austria, and Italy. The model is tailored for all types of tourism companies who prefer to use a high quality internal training program for their employees.
The TTRAIN model is divided into four parts:
Part 1
Social and communication skills
Part 2
Training skills
Part 3
Adaptability and Problem solving
Part 4
Organization and Continuous learning
Methods of the Curriculum
This learning model is a methodology in training of trainers concentrating on teaching adult students. The program is a combination of 19 different modules where the main subject concentrates on the following:
- Different situation and learning demands of adult students and how the trainers can meet these requirements.
- Preparation and design of efficient vocational training programs for adult students
- Practical methods in making effective teaching/learning material
- Creative methods in teaching/learning
- New approaches in teaching (coaching and mentoring) according to recent ideas about effectiveness and quality in adult learning.
- Adult students and their differences in learning styles, motivation and competences and how to meet them with a variety of different approaches.
- New approaches accelerated learning and innovative thinking.
- Administrative responsibility of the enterprise for training of employees
- Real competences assessments in tourism sector
Each of the above subjects can be adjusted according to the identified needs of the tourism sector.
The TTRAIN curriculum recommends 40-50 hours of learning as the minimal training for acknowledged trainers. In order to be able to connect/integrate the courses to the existing vocational system in each country it is necessary to use some kind of descriptor who places the course into the country’s educational system (In Iceland Model can give 2 FEIN – secondary school credits).
The following process is suggested for the implementation of the TTRAIN curriculum:
- Starting with a GAP/need analysis: to define industry needs using both existing information and by interviewing stakeholders and companies, see GAP analysis reportand Interview framework.
- Before starting the training course use Part 0 – Basic competences and its assessment of competences to evaluate prior learning and skills of trainees such as self confidence, writing skills, product/industry knowledge, resource management, concern for safety/ quality, time and stress management.
- Implement Part 1-4 in classroom and let trainees do exercises at the workplace. All in all 40-50 hours are foreseen: around 20-25 hours of training in the classroom, and 20-25 hours of practical training at the workplace of the “trainees”.
Click here to see how the Curriculum was adapted in the TTRAIN partner countries (see here the Descriptions for Iceland, Austria, Finland and Italy).
How to use this Learning Portal?
There are basically two main target groups who can use the TTRAIN Learning Portal and its contents:
1) VET teachers (subsequently called “instructors” or “trainers of trainers”) who want to find new inspirations for conducting a practical and effective training course for employees in the tourism sector teaching how to provide work-based training for (fellow) employees. If you are a VET teacher we recommend that you read attentively the sections “For the instructors” – there, you will find a description of the recommended contents to teach, as well as methods and tools to use, and some sample material gathered and tested by TTRAIN partners.
2) Tourism employees, also called “On-the-job trainers” who would like to assess in how far they have the competences needed for the provision of effective on-the-job training. You can go directly to the self-assessment questionnaires integrated in the different parts of the curriculum, starting from Part 0 – Basic competences. At the end of each self-assessment you will receive a result and can read the respective recommendations on how to improve your competences. If you are a participant of a TTRAIN training course, you can also send your results directly to your trainer via a contact form at the end of the online assessment. We recommend you to follow an organised TTRAIN course facilitated by an experienced instructor; however, you might want to use some of the competences you already feel confident in by applying some of the tasks to do at the workplace, you will find their descriptions at the end of each learning unit.
Part 1
Social and communication skills and work-place practice: training overview, effective communication, teamwork, IT, developing others, work ethics and values.
Part 2
Training skills and work-place practice: communication, teamwork, fostering and organizing adult learning.
Part 3
Adaptability and Problem solving and work-place practice: IT, adaptability and problem solving.
Part 4
Organization and Continuous learning & Follow up in the workplace: organizational awareness, continuous learning and summary integrating all subjects.
Clicking on each part moves you to training instructions and material
The denominations used in the training material:
- Instructors/trainers of trainers: those who teach TTRAIN courses according to this curriculum.
- Tourism employees/in-house trainers: employees in the tourism sector who provide on-the-job training for their (fellow) employees, students/trainees of the Instructors .
TTRAIN was developed in a 2-year cooperation project between Iceland, Finland, Austria, and Italy from 2015 to 2017.
The project was funded by the Erasmus+ programme.
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