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«Building the Future of Skills in the Tourism Sector: A European Approach to Micro-credentials»

A one-day event for representatives, institutions, professionals, employees and employers in the tourism sector as well as the educational community.

Imagine a world where micro-credentials are not only valuable, but essential in education and employment. In Europe’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, driven by relentless technological and economic developments, the demand for innovative educational frameworks is at a high level. The importance of innovation in learning is immense. As technology advances and workplaces change, micro-credentials become critical in both education and the labor market.

Issues related to the modern framework of micro-credentials, their impact on work, education and skills recognition in Europe as well as their importance in the tourism sector will be presented by the Microidea Consortium in collaboration with   Eurosuccess , under the auspices of the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), on Thursday 12 December 2024, at 09:00 cet, at the NCCI premises in Nicosia & Online.

The conference aims to create a holistic and integrated methodology for defining principles for the design, issuance, evaluation, validation and certification of micro-credentials that are widely recognized at European level and integrated into existing quality and assurance systems focusing on the Tourism sector.

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Conference program

09:00-09:15 CET | Arrival (online & physically)

09:15-09:30 CET | Opening Ceremony: EUROSC & NCCI

09:30-09:50 CET | Presentation of the Project: UoP, Acron ym & TUV Austria

09:50-10:10 CET | Presentation of Microcredentials: Anastasia Pouliou, CEDEFOP
10:10-10:30 CET | Presentation of Occupational Profile: Giorgos Giorgakis, EUROSC
  • The methodology
  • Identication of Skills and modularised Curriculum
  • The Occupational Profile

10:30-10:50 CET | Coffee Break

10:50-11:10 CET | Keynote Speaker 1: Annita Demetriadou

Director of Tourism, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Cyprus

11:10-11:30 CET | Keynote Speaker 2: Christiana Iacovidou

General Manager, Cleopatra Hotel, Nicosia, Cyprus

11:30-13:00 CET | Roundtable: Aligning Microcredentials for the Tourism Sector

MODERATOR

- Dr. Lukasz Sienkiewicz, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Management and Economics at Gdansk University Technology

PARTICIPANTS

- Sandor Karacsony, Senior Economist, World Bank expert

- Andreas Alexi, representative of chamber NCCI chamber

- Vicent Pastor, officer of the General Directorate for VET of the Regional Ministry of Catalonia

- Dr Wojciech Stęchły, expert at Educational Research Institute in Warsaw (IBE) and assistant professor at Warsaw School of Economics (SGH)

- Xavier Mudarra Pizarro, Technical Teaching Advisor in Vocational Education and Training internationalisation at the Directorate General of Vocational Training of the Generalitat de Catalunya

- Mr. Yannis Tsichlis, Corporate Affairs Director. - Grecotel Hotels & Resorts - N. Daskalantonakis Group, Greece

- Kari P. Hadjivassiliou, Principal Researcher and Consultant at the Tavistock Institute (UK and Germany) and Co-lead of its EU/international portfolio of work

- Magda Peistikou, Head of Learning and Development, Institute of Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE)

  • Rapid fire discussion will involve representatives of National Stakeholders and International Thematic experts
  • Questions will address various aspects of microcredentials, including ISO/IEC 17024 correlations, inclusion in VET programmes and their applications for the tourism sector

13:00-13:30 CET | Q&A Session with Roundtable members moderated by EUROSC

13:30-13:45 CET | Closing Ceremony: EUROSC & NCC

Those interested in taking part in the conference can fill in the following pre-registration form until Monday 9/12/2024.

We will be happy to see you at our event!

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Anastasia Pouliou

Anastasia Pouliou is a Cedefop Expert in qualifications and credentials – Future of VET. She is currently leading the Agency’s research on Microcredentials for labour market education and training,  learning outcomes and VET excellence and inclusion for the 21st century in Europe. She is involved in other Cedefop activities (including the coordination of developments on national qualifications frameworks and the TVET-Interagency group on the Future of TVET). Before joining Cedefop she worked as an Educational Consultant in the Ministry of Education and Religious affairs and as a head of the European Affairs Unit in the Organisation for Vocational Education and Training (Greece). She has performed senior management and national coordination on Europass and Leonardo da Vinci projects and has published influential articles in academic journals. She has represented Cedefop as keynote speaker at high-level international events in Europe, USA and South Africa.

Giorgos Giorgakis

Giorgos Giorgakis is the founder and Managing Director of Eurosuccess Consulting. He has graduated from the European University of Cyprus, with a Master Degree (MBA) in Business Administration in July 2008. He has developed, managed and implemented more than 90 EU and National projects (FP, LLP, JUSTICE, ERASMUS +, COSME, RIF etc.) Mr Giorgakis is also the Coordinator of the VET and training activities for Eurosuccess, which is accredited as VET Center by the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus – the relevant public authority as regards to training and education. As regards to the participation of professional bodies and associations at EU level, Mr Giorgakis is the National Representative for Cyprus, at European Forum of Vocational Education and Training (EfVET). Under this capacity, Mr Giorgakis is actively participating into various working groups, trainings, events and conferences contributing in this way to the development of the EU strategies as well as supporting all relevant organizations, in Cyprus and abroad.

Annita Demetriadou

Ms. Annita Demetriadou is Director of Tourism at the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Licensing of Tourist Enterprises, the main mission of which is to improve the overall visitor experience through the development and promotion of tourism product quality and, more specifically, that of infrastructure, accommodation and catering sectors, human resources and the environment. Before this new assignment, she had served as the Director of the Directorate of Strategy, which is mainly responsible for the research, planning and strategic development of the Cyprus tourism sector.

Ms. Demetriadou also had the operation of the International Conference Centre Filoxenia in Nicosia and the Larnaca Marina under her authority. From 2000 to 2008, Ms. Demetriadou held the position of the Director of Tourism in charge of the Administration, Accounts and Registry Department.

Since 2010, Ms. Demetriadou has also been chairing the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Agrotourism Company, a non-profit Organisation responsible for the development and promotion of Agrotourism. Since 2019 Ms Demetriadou holds the position of one of the 5 vice-chairmen of “Rural Tours” (Ex-Eurogites).

From 2015 until 2017, she served as Acting Director General of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO).

Christiana Iacovidou

Christina Iakovidou is a highly experienced hospitality professional, serving as the General Manager of Cleopatra Hotel, a 4-star property in Nicosia, Cyprus, since 2000. She has overseen extensive renovations, introduced new facilities such as a Greek meze restaurant and gym, and managed key areas including financial planning, HR, sales, and quality control systems like ISO 22000:2005 and HACCP. Her earlier roles in marketing and management in the USA and UK, including positions at Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company and Stakis Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel, have provided her with a strong foundation in strategic planning and operations.

Christina holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Indiana and a BSc in Hotel & Catering Management from the University of Surrey, graduating with distinction. Fluent in Greek, English, and French, she actively contributes to the hospitality and tourism sectors through board memberships and speaking engagements at international conferences. Additionally, she is committed to community service, organizing charitable events to support health and social causes.

Magda Peistikou

Magda Peistikou serves as the Head of Learning and Development at INSETE (the Institute of Education of the Greek Tourism Confederation). She holds an MSc in International Hospitality and Tourism Marketing Management, an MBA, and a PgCert. In the past year, she commenced her PhD studies in Event Management.

Since 2006, Magda has been active in the tourism, food, and events sectors, both as a lecturer and a practitioner. In 2009, she became the Editor-in-Chief of *Food Service* magazine and other business publications. Her work has been published in international journals and conference proceedings. In 2020, she began collaborating with the UNWTO as a training expert, participating in educational projects in Russia, Georgia, and Tanzania. In 2022, Magda expanded her career by becoming a mentor for food producers, some of whom have achieved international recognition.

Additionally, she holds the role of judge for both the Taste Olymp Awards and the Innovation in Politics Awards. In 2024, she joined the TEDxAthens teams as a media relations manager. She is also an experienced organizer of food events, overseeing everything from conceptual development to execution, with her work earning numerous accolades from professional associations and organizations.

Xavier Mudarra Pizarro

He holds a degree in Political Science and Administration with a specialization in International Relations, complemented by a Master’s in International Relations, Security, and Development, as well as a diploma in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education. In 2007, he began his career as a primary school teacher and worked for three years as a Special Education teacher. Since 2011, he has served as a teacher in various schools across Catalonia, excelling in the teaching of Business Administration and Management. Starting in 2017 at Institut Provençana, he took on leadership roles as Mobility Coordinator and Seminar Head. His experience also includes working as an educational technician at the General Directorate of Vocational Training and serving as an evaluator for Erasmus+ projects. Additionally, he has participated in European collaborative projects, such as eTwinning, and has employed diverse active methodologies, including project-based learning and simulation, the latter in which he has also been a trainer for business management simulation.

Mr. Yannis Tsichlis

With 34 years’ experience in hospitality, Yannis Tsichlis joined Grecotel S.A. in 1990 and held since then key managerial positions in Sales, Marketing, Communication and PR, contributing to the group’s evolution to the leading hotel chain of Greece. 
He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Athens and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in Marketing from the University of Sheffield, UK. 

He has taken part in numerous international product and executive development training programs.

 In his current role as Corporate Affairs Director, he represents the group to governmental authorities and trade associations and he is responsible for business relations, strategic partnerships and the ESG policy of the group.


*According to market statistics, Grecotel and Affiliated N.Daskalantonakis group ranks No.1 with 33 De Luxe & A’ category hotels (source ICAP, Greek Hotel Study, Nov 2024).

The Grecotel Hotels & Resorts are located in Athens, Attica, Crete, Corfu, West Peloponnese, Rhodes, Mykonos, Kos, Kalamata, Larisa and Alexandroupolis.

Kari P. Hadjivassiliou

Principal Researcher and Consultant at the Tavistock Institute (UK and Germany)and Co-lead of its EU/international portfolio of work.

Kari has over 30 years’ experience in international comparative research and evaluation, including the fields of employment and labour markets, school-to-work transitions and career trajectories, and inclusion of young people across the EU; welfare policies; education and training systems, vocational education and training and apprenticeships; and human and social capital development, including adult up-skilling and lifelong learning. Her interest and expertise lie in EU-wide research and policy, programme and process evaluation with a strong formative and stakeholder perspective.

Dr.Lukasz Sienkiewicz

Associate Professor at the Faculty of Management and Economics at Gdansk University Technology. Coordinator of the Centre for Technological, Economic and Social Transformation (C-TEST) and one of the founders of the Institute for Labour Market Analyses. Graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics, where he also obtained his Ph.D. in the field of management science and habilitated doctorate in the field of social sciences. For over 20 years now he works as a research professional, leading and taking part in scientific, as well as business focused research. He specializes in the issues of human capital development and labour market intelligence, including digitization induced transformations and micro-credentials. Author and co-author of over 90 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 100 research and analytical reports for international organizations (European Commission, ETF, CEDEFOP, Eurofound, Inter-American Development Bank) and business practice.

Vicent D. Pastor Martorell

Technical Educational Advisor for the industrial fields in Vocational Education and Training of the General Directorate of Vocational Estudies of Generalitat de Catalunya.

Over 20 years of experience in education, project management, and organizational leadership. Specialization in curriculum design and development for vocational education programs in fields such as Mechanical Manufacturing, Installation and Maintenance, Energy and Woodworking. My expertise includes adapting educational frameworks, promoting active methodologies like project-based learning (PBL), and fostering international collaborations.

Throughout my career, I have successfully led projects in areas like teacher training, curriculum innovation, and strategic partnerships with public and private entities. Additionally, I have played a key role in coordinating foreign language programs and digital transformation initiatives, as well as organizing events such as vocational training fairs and competitions.

Dr Wojciech Stęchły

Dr Wojciech Stęchły is a qualifications system and microcredentials expert at the Educational Research Institute in Warsaw (IBE) and assistant professor at Warsaw School of Economics (SGH). He is currently involved in development of the Odznaka+ (a digital credentials application for micro-credentials and badges) as a chief expert for developing standards and quality assurance. Wojciech is involved in various activities related to development of skills ontologies and digital applications for counselling and exploration of qualifications, skills and occupations as well as in research on various issues such as VET and AE institutions and financing or transversal skills assessment.

Andreas Alexi

My name is Andreas Alexis and I have been a legal advisor for the last 14 years. My diverse work history exposed me to different areas of expertise and philosophy, with a focus in labor law, employment law, health and safety, and Anti-money Laundering.
In self-reflection, I am a determined, kind, and bold individual, who is very goal oriented. Once I identify and analyse a set goal, as part of my implementation stage, I apply detailed planning, study the relevant legislations and tools, and ensure that my deliverable is governed by a model that contains full development of suggestions while addressing any existing or possible problems, and that it includes suggestions and exposure to any potential risk.
I highly prioritize the Principle of Prevention which refers to obtaining timely insurance aims, legal opinions, or other effective recommendations.
Teamwork, gender equality in the workplace, stress management and the positive outcomes it brings, hard work done in a safe working environment, Lifelong Learning, caring and understanding in the workplace, flexible forms of employment, willingness to go the extra mile, and positive energy, are all part of my core belief system.
The above, is not just a personal description. I believe that it is a summary of what drives me to always strive for further development, to the mutual benefit of both my employer and myself.

Iakovina Vardalachou

Iakovina (Vivi) Vardalachou (Mrs), is Physicist with MSc in Electronics and Director of Persons’ Certification Division in TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS since September 2013. She has 36 years of professional experience in quality matters and International Standards’ requirements as well as 28 years in certification sector. She has deep knowledge of International Standards’ requirements such as: ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17021, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17024 etc and since 1988, she deals exclusively with quality matters, Management Systems and International Standards, having been successively trained in all versions of the ISO 9001 standard, up to the current one, as well as in all accreditation standards ISO/IEC 17021, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17024 etc.

She is also quite experienced in Quality Management Systems’ Audits and has been recognized as Lead Auditor since 1996. During the period 1988 – 2005 she worked at INTRACOM SA. successively holding the positions of Head of Quality Control Department, Assistant to Quality Assurance Director, Deputy Director of Quality Assurance Division and Quality Assurance Section Manager. At the same time, from 1996 to 2009, she collaborated with Hellenic Organization for Standardization (ELOT) and the Certification Division as freelancer and Lead Auditor for various Management Systems.

Since 2009 she is working in TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS and, up to now, she has developed and implemented up to 60 different accredited certification schemes for persons, according to the International Standard ISO/IEC 17024 requirements.

Sandor Karacsony

Sandor Karacsony is a senior economist at the World Bank, with a track record in research, policy advisory and operational work in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Previously he worked with Open Society Foundations, with the World Bank Executive Board as an advisor, and held various government and private sector positions in Hungary. His area of expertise covers employment, jobs, social assistance, education and skills, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Sandor has a special interest in development policy applications of data science and behavioral economics.

Giannis Tzimas

Giannis Tzimas is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Peloponnese. He has published a significant number of research articles in international journals and conferences. His current research activity lies in the areas of Net-centric and Service-Oriented Information Systems, Web Engineering, Web Modeling, Web Data Engineering, Big Data, Data Science and Applications of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Digital Ecosystems/Digital Transformation for the Public Sector, and Bioinformatics.

From 2018 till now, he has been an external consultant for the World Bank in the field of information systems, IT solutions, and Digital Transformation for Social Protection, Labor/Jobs, and Education. He has worked on several projects in Europe and Central Asia (ECA), Africa, China, the Caribbean, and Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Was the technical coordinator and unit manager of the Internet Technologies and Multimedia Research Unit of the Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus”, and the head of the Networks Operation Center of the Technological Educational Institute of Messolonghi.

Athina Lazou

Special Advisor/EU Projects Expert at ACRONYM Ltd. Former Head of the Vocational Guidance and VET directorates of the Greek Public Employment Services (DYPA). She has a diverse experience as Director General and CEO with a number of Public Organizations that promote vocational training and reskilling / upskilling of unemployed and employees. She has collaborated with all Social Partners of the country. She has conducted (as project manager/leader) a series of innovative European projects and she was for six years the National Representative at the European Commission for ESCO as well as the OECD Mega Science Forum.