These are the main steps for hosting a UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation Initiative:

Duration: this process may take between 6 to 8 months

1. Request: The highest authority in the National Tourism Administration sends a formal written request to UNWTO proposing: dates, topic (outcomes desired), format, language, place and logistics.
2. Agreement:
   1. UNWTO replies and sends an agreement to be signed between UNWTO, UNWTO Academy and the host country.
   2. The agreement is signed and received at UNWTO.
3. Proposal: UNWTO Academy sends a proposal to the NTA with a content outline, a budget and other matters, which is to be accepted by the NTA.
4. Preparation:
   1. The NTA designates its team: 1 course coordinator, 1 technical visit and prep visit coordinator, 1 communications coordinator.
   2. The NTA identifies the regional/local coordination team, and introduces it is to the UNWTO Academy.
   3. The NTA, UNWTO, UNWTO Academy, experts and the province and town hosts prepare the initiative and organise the Initiative.
5. Preparatory visit: The NTA and the host town welcome the experts and the UNWTO Academy team up to 4 days before the beginning of the UNWTO.Capacity Initiative, so as to prepare the technical visit (when corresponding) and/or other academic, technical and logistic arrangements. During this preparatory visit, they are to meet and interview the main tourism stakeholders of the territory, visit all the tourism attractions and the territory in general, and prepare the technical visit for the practical part of the Initiative.
6. Delivery: The NTA and the host town coordinate the everyday of the UNWTO Academy.
7. Report: Once the UNWTO Academy Initiative has finished, the NTA sends to the UNWTO Academy its final report.

The tailor-made UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation initiatives are offered to a maximum of 45 participants, and may be in any topic listed below or in any other topic of the NTA's choice:

The duration of any UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation initiatives may vary according to the topic, the academic approach and learning objectives expected for that initiative, the target audience needs, partners and other matters.

Please find below the different options with the format and type of initiative:

In any situation, the UNWTO Academy is to evaluate if the topic requested is viable for the duration of the training initiative, as to guarantee the quality of the whole training experience.

Example of a 3-day Workshop AGENDA

A 3-day workshop comprises up to 2 modules, practical activities for each module and at least 1 presentation by participants.

The workshop usually also comprises a welcome dinner/cocktail on the first day of the event and possibly a closing dinner on the second or last day of the UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation initiative.

The following agenda is only an example and is to be agreed with all the parties involved in the UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation initiative. Due to the different schedules used in different regions, the timings may be altered accordingly.

Example of a 5-day Course AGENDA

A 5-day course comprises 3 modules, practical activities for each module, a presentation on the tourism policy and strategy on the topic of the training initiative by the national tourism administration and another one by the regional/local tourism administration, a fieldwork day, 2 presentations by participants and a few social activities. It is also recommended to propose a visit of the venue town, so participants can have a better understanding of the fieldwork sites reality and a hostistic understanding of the tourist experience.

The course usually also comprises a welcome dinner/cocktail on the day before the training initiative and a closing dinner on the last day of the event.

The following agenda is only an example and is to be agreed with all the parties involved in the UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation initiative. Due to the different schedules used in different regions, the timings may be altered accordingly.

The UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation Initiative adopts a fact-driven practical approach, by presenting state-of-the-art theory through the analysis of real-life case examples and in-class activities, tailored on participants’ knowledge and objectives. The modular structure adopted is conducive of a highly interactive learning experience that blends presentations, case studies, discussions, debates and practical activities.

Each of the modules adopts a similar structure, to facilitate in-class learning. Each module starts with a calibrated mix of theory and practical examples to introduce the main topic, followed by the presentation of real-life case examples which illustrate the details of an empirical use of the theoretical framework, and by a practical activity where participants can put the theoretical framework in practice, tailoring this approach on their reality. Presentations will be brief, conceptual, tool-sharing and highly interactive, combined with discussions and debates.

When format and duration of the initiative is adequate, the practical approach includes a technical visit in an area related to the topic of the initiative. During this field trip, participants conduct fieldwork, interviews, information gathering and other interactive activities with the local community. This technical visit is to be planned in coordination with the National and Local Tourism Organizations / Administrations and the UNWTO Academy.

The participants are expected to give, at least, two main presentations: one on the outcomes of the fieldwork (if applicable) and another one on the final task required (which can be a proposal for a route, a plan…).

Moreover, to make good use of this event, participants may receive (when selected) an introductory booklet with UNWTO publications, articles or other reading material, introducing key issues and concepts needed for the initiative, and might be requested to prepare work/presentations on the subject.

The intention of this approach – the transmission and usage of various tools, the expertise of the experts and participants, the discussion forums and the practical group work – is for participants to fully understand the topics of the event.

The UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation initiatives may be either national, regional or international, and a mix of various types of participants may take part.

When the UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation initiative is either regional or international, international participants may receive scholarships which are to cover tuition fees, full-board accommodation and internal transport.

When possible, we encourage the hosting NTA to offer full-board accommodation and internal transport scholarships, while UNWTO and its UNWTO Academy offer tuition fees scholarships for the same amount of international officials.

In some cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports these events with funds for the expenses of these participants.

In the following grid, the logistics and expenses of the UNWTO.ExecutiveEducation Initiative are specified accordingly: