An innovative virtual method for providing eTourism education in a university network : eTourism Curriculum Finland

Abstract

Developing the know-how and capabilities of tourism students in the field of online business and eTourism is crucial to increase use of information and communication technologies in the industry. This paper presents a novel system for organizing eTourism education in higher education institutes such as universities and universities of applied sciences. This system is based on course exchange between institutions and provides altogether 35 ECTS credits of annual studies in eTourism in English. This paper provides an overview of how the system came to be and how it is organized in practice. The results of this paper are useful for universities interested in developing eTourism education and demonstrates how universities can work together with low investments to create something that none of them could do alone. It elaborates the new possibilities information and communication technologies provide for universities for co-operation and more efficient curriculum.