University Goce Delchev in Shtip was the host institution to the Kick-off meeting, which took place from October 17th ‘till 19th. Project partners from all 4 HEI partners in this project participated at this first meeting. The occasion served the need to introduce in person the partners to each other and to have a discussion of what is ahead during the implementation phase.
Both outputs were thoroughly discussed and necessary agreement were reached. One of the conclusions refers to the team compositions and in that manner, by November 15th each partner institution will compose the teams that will start working on the output development.
The next meeting of the Project Management Team will take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, from 08-10.05.2017.

January 31th, 2017
As previously announced, the team that is working on the development of the software for nutritional/energy value of the meals (Output 1) is on its working tracks. Experts from the Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics, lead by Prof. Nako Tashkov, followed by Dushica Saneva, MSc and IT experts Gotse Bogatinov and Jordan Tikveshanski are making the first progress.
The meeting that took place few days ago, several things were agreed that will be incorporated in the software i.e. the meals ingredients and the values that will be presented on the screen.
In the following months, having collaborative support from the rest of the teams the software will be gradually developed, having it's draft version somewhere in September 2017.

News from Bulgaria
The team that works on the development of the national menu in Bulgaria, under the guidance of Bistra Vasileva (Local country coordinator) and Tsonka Godjevargova had approved 15 meals that reflect traditions, custom and habits of 8 regions in Bulgaria i.e. Shopska, Pirin, Rodopi, Thracia, Severnyashka, Dobrudzha, Strandzha area and Black Sea Region.
We will be impatiently wait for the pictures of these delicacies that will become an integral part of the booklet.
The results of this project have led to a meeting with the Director of Vocational School on Tourism in Varna. This school had expressed willingness to collaborate with the FET project during implementation period.

February 12th, 2017 - Dissemination activities in Bulgaria
On February 12th 2017 a dissemination event took place in Varna’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Representatives from Varna Chamber of Tourism and hotel industry participated in the event too.
Looking forward to the next similar occasion.

Output development
It’s been a while since our last announcement, but that does not mean we have not been occupied with the project development. On the contrary. Under Output 1 (The National Menu) all countries teams were heavily engaged in selection of meals that will be presented in the e-version. Furthermore, teams did communicate among themselves in order to achieve suitable and user-friendly IT tool for determination of meal’s energetic value.
We’re proud to announce that the first software version is operational and will be presented to the partners during PMT meeting in Burgas, May 77h-10th. Until this software is fully operational, access to it will be possible only to the project members. It is expected that everything will be in fully operational mode by October 2017. The software calculates how many calories or kilojoules a meal has. The user selects the ingredients and the calculator presents the energy value (in KJ or KCal) and even more. It gives data of other significant parameters (as presented on the picture).
The software will be in 4 languages (En, Mk, Cr, Bg and Gr) containing data for the ingredients needed to prepare the national meals.





Enjoy!!! ☺

As far as the Output 2 is concerned, it is developing with steady pace. As in the case of the previous output, first software version is operational and will be presented to the PMT in Burgas.

Meeting in Burgas, Bulgaria
The city of Burgas in Bulgaria, and the Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarev University will host the project management team for their Second coordination meeting.
The meeting will be held from 8th 'till 10th of May 2017.
The working agenda during the three days of work will be to confirm the project implementation status, the future activities and to set a date for the Third coordination meeting, which will happen in Thessaloniki, in the spring of 2018.

As announced previously, Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarev University in Burgas hosted the participants of the Second Coordination meeting, which took place from 08-10.05.2017.
During the three working days project coordinators from all of the participating universities discussed the issues related to the project implementation. It was concluded that the stages are developing according to the scheduled activities and that the output development is on satisfactory level.
Considering that the training phase will take place from October, it was adopted that the first training (C1 and C5) will take place in Ohrid, from 23-27.10.2017.
The organization of the Third coordination meeting will be a responsibility of ATEITh, in Thessaloniki from 25-27.09.2017

Emphasizing the necessity for joint collaboration in Higher Education Institutions for obtaining better students preparedness, prof. Fotis Kilipiris from Tourism & Hospitality Management, Department of Business Administration, Alexander TEI of Thessaloniki and Athanasios Dermetzopoulos Adjunct Faculty Member, American College of Thessaloniki, both members of the Project management team published a paper in the Journal of Tourism Research (vol.16 of June 2017).
We salute this article's publication and cordially invite you to read this paper, titled as Shaping the Future Education in Tourism (FET): Innovative and Strategic Partnerships in South Eastern Europe.

Back on tracks
It is time to speed up the development of the activities ☺
The outputs are in their closing stages and the preparations for the Second coordination meeting at the ATEITh in Thessaloniki are over.
September 25th to 27th are the dates for the finalization of the preparations for the stage 2 i.e. experts from all project-partner institutions will travel to each of the countries in order to check for any flaws or to seek improvements to the outputs.
Meanwhile arrangements for the First workshop of the experts in Ohrid, FYRO Macedonia are taking place and are expected to be finalized by mind-September.

We will keep you posted

Wrapping up
As things are starting to roll-on, it was time to make a review of what's been done and what needs to be done in order to enter the next project phase.
In that manner, the project management team of Goce Delchev University held a coordination meeting with its working groups.
After two and a half hours of discussion it was a pleasure to conclude that all the goals will be finalized by the deadline and that both of the softwares are in their final phase of development.
Everything will be done by the Third coordination meeting in Thessaloniki, 25-27.09.2017

Project Management Team meets in Thessaloniki
The Second coordination meeting took place from 25-27.09.2017 in the premises of A.T.E.I.Th. In the three days of checking, deliberation, expressing ideas and taking decisions, the members of the PMT have concluded that the outputs are almost ready for use. The next phase, in which workshops will take place, a full check-out will be done in order to discover any problem that may cause problems in the future. And as it should be, these meetings made a good opportunity to socialize, as the hosts organized a meeting to a local vinery and a local master of preparation of traditional Bougatsa pie.
On the final day, the PMT had a chance to visit the A.T.E.I Th. Rector and to discuss about the current and possible future collaboration with this institution.

As of Monday, 23.10.2017 another page of project implementation will begin.
Everything what's been done in the previous month comes for check-up.
Whether it is good, does it need improvement or everything's in order?
10 specialists from all partner institutions, divided into 2 groups will start the transfer of know-how and test the 2 software developed under this project, while professors in gastronomy from the Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics will present Macedonian national cuisine to their colleagues from Greece, Bulgaria and Croatia.
we shall keep an eye on both of the workshops and will keep you posted.

Well...they say "Everything beautiful, must come to an end."
And it's true.
Five days of gathering and exchange of know-how are over. But, there is also a saying "Every time something ends, is a beginning of something new."
And this is also true as the new workshop C2 & C6 will take place in just a month from now. This time in Alexandroupoli, Greece.
Until then, I leave you to enjoy the photos the teams made during 5-day of work.
Appreciation to the manager and staff of Hotel Sileks in Ohrid. You guys are just marvelous.
Enjoy the pictures. They tell quite a story. A never ending one.
Cheers

First workshops are over
The city of Ohrid and hotel Sileks were hosts of the national teams that had worked on the activities aimed to transfer the know-how in preparation traditional food from the FYRO Macedonia, and to get familiarized with the functionality of the Hospitality management software.
Five days of gathering and exchange of know-how are now over. The participants were exposed to all fo the knowledge from the professors from the Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics from University Goce Delchev in Shtip.
The new workshop C2 & C6 will take place in just a month from now. This time in Alexandroupoli, Greece.

Last workshop in 2017
These days Alexandroupoli in Greece hosts the teams from all partner HEI in exchange of know-how related in preparation of Greek traditional meals, and in getting into details of the hospitality software that is developed under this project.
We wish the teams success in their working activity and good time while having a break.
And as for you, dear friends, I invite you to enjoy while going through the delicacies prepared by our teams.
Have fun.
Always!!! ☺

Dissemination activity in Skopje
On Friday, December 15th 2017 the at the premises of University Goce Delchev, Skopje campus, professors and students from the Faculty of Tourism and business Logistics that participate in the outputs development had organized a dissemination meeting. High-school principals and teachers on gastronomy and hospitality management from all major high-schools in the FYRO Macedonia, accompanied by representatives from municipalities and the Center of vocational education took place in introducing the tools that were developed under this project.
Participants were delighted to hear and see how all of the outputs work and have expressed their will to participate in further development of any other tool that would help them and their pupils in the knowledge transfer.
At the end of the workshop, students from the Faculty of tourism and business logistics have prepared some of the dishes listed in the National Menu.

Before the TPM in Shibenik
The Project management team of University Goce Delchev in Shtip had taken the opportunity to discuss about output developments. Especially, after the requests from the rest of the partners related to minor improvements to both of the software.
Team leaders have reported that the test phase is in full implementation and once the Sofia workshop is over, the software will be fully operational.

Workshop news
As previously has been announced, this week two workshops (C3 & C7) are taking place in Sofia, organised by University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov" from Burgas.
In order to introduce the project and its outputs, one of the groups is practicing its session at the Professional High School of Tourism, thus giving a chance to pupils and their teachers to gain new expereinces.
More to come as the workshop develops.

When professionals get down to business
The Balkans region is famous on its many traditions. Some of them are just calling you to explore.
The pictures attached to this post are just a fragment of the art, the professionals in gastronomy from all 4 institutions are preparing in the frame of C3 workshop. The greatest benefit is that professionalism and art is transferred to the pupils, teachers and other staff of the institution in which the workshop takes place the Professional High School of Tourism.
Not to waste words...enjoy

Workshops in Croatia
The last two workshops are taking place in Shibenik, Croatia.
The specialists are making the final tunes of the Hotel management software, while the experts in gastronomy are gaining knowledge in preparation Croatian national dishes.
It has been a wonderful opportunity for the teaching staff and the hosts in each of the countries to gain additional experience in preparation Balkan countries cuisine.
November 10th, in Thessaloniki, the project manager will attend "BALKANS – A CROSSROAD OF ALTERNATIVE TOURIST ROUTES" and will lead a pannel on "Proposals and ideas to promote Balkan tourism co-operation and existing good practices. Could a Balkan tourist product be formed?".
It is going to be a unique opportunity to present the experiences of involvement of Higher Education Institutions in providing tools for the students and other interested parties in gaining skills, thus increasing their employability skills.

Project invitation...
Upon an invitation by the office of Ms. Kostadinka KUNEVA, member of the EU Parliament from Greece, on Saturday, November 10th 2018 the project manager Mr. Vasko Zlatkovski is invited to present the project "Shaping the Future Education in Tourism" and its results on the Forum "BALKANS, A CROSSROAD OF ALTERNATIVE TOURIST ROUTES".
The forum will take place at the CONGRESS CENTER "N.GERMANOS", HALL Β,
THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FAIR
154 Egnatia STR
546 36, Thessaloniki
It will be a unique opportunity to talk about the project, its development and impact on such a distinguished audience.
The project extends the appreciation to Prof. Fotis Kilipiris and the office of Ms. Kostadinka KUNEVA, member of the EU Parliament, for providing such opportunity.

Project final...
The project enters its final couple of months of implementation.
In February, we'll organize a Multiplier event in Shibenik, Croatia. We shall present what we did, how we did it, and how it works 😊
Follow to be informed on the exact days when the event will take place.
Meanwhile it is time to summarize what's been done and whether what the partners did, is relevant to the students.
The teams are performing surveys from the students, asking if the tools developed under this project they find useful.
Will keep you posted as the results of the survey are prepared.

The Final meeting
Well, here we are at the very last meeting of the Project Management Team.
Proud to say that we did it. We have accomplished everything that’s been planned almost 4 years ago.
Watch live for the Promotion event, taking place on Tuesday, March 5th, beginning from 11.00 hours on project’s FB fun page and UGD life.

Tourism is important source of income for great number of countries. No matter whether they have access to sea, or are landlocked. This branch of the economy brings hard currency income into country’s economy, but also contributes to reduce unemployment rate, as it provides opportunity for creation of large number of working places especially in the service sector.
Tourism plays great importance to the development of national economy to the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, averaging contribution to countries’ GDP with € 29,4 bn (17,3% of GDP).
But, this sector, is as volatile as it can be. Natural or man mad disasters (economic crisis, political instability etc.) can significantly reduce its contribution. However, those situations eventually resolve, giving wind to the development wigs. Since the number of accommodation facilities is on the rise, new staff need to be recruited, often causing problems in finding trained and educated staff.
Number of HEI institutions in the region provide formal tertiary education. But the challenges they engage are increasing year-by-year. Tourist demands, the industry’s accommodation to the demands by the tourists and not just tourists only but the general population as well, ever growing IT equipment used in the facilities…everything listed needs to be transferred to the students.
The project will create two separate outputs i.e. one in gastronomy/nutrition, the other one in hospitality. The first output will serve the students’ needs to have a tool to be able to compose a meal in accordance to the client’s needs. Facing obesity in general population students need a tool which will train them in their learning process how to use ICT based technology in creating their guest daily diet (very common while working in facilities who deal with specific clients). On the other hand, latest amendments to the legislation requires declaration of nutritional value of the meals they prepare. Not to be neglected is the tourists’ trend to seek for national cuisine while abroad. So, each project partners will create a list of at 15 national menus (full course) and will determine their nutritional value which will be a part of the "National menu" of the institutions that collaborate with the HEI partners in this project. Once the project finishes and results are to be published, the outcomes will be of a use to all interested enterprises and other HEI. The second output will create a tool which will introduce students to a management practice of accommodation facility (hotel/motel). It will give them unique opportunity to get familiarized of the operational principles of the different departments facilities have, how they are inter-dependent and how they synchronize their activities.

The way this project will achieve targeted values is rarely applied in this part of Europe. Traditionally not trustful or identifying a competitor, rather than partner in neighboring countries this project will use the Regional approach in establishing links between the HEI in the region and will offer tools for Region's small and medium enterprises to use for expansion of their business. Meaning, the first level of regional approach will be used during the phase of outcomes development (the "National Menu" and the software for Management of restaurants and hotels).
This project strongly depends on the "Participative approach". As the name indicates, the development and finalization of the outcomes will require merge of teams of experts from different area of expertise. During the meals selection process and development of "regular" and "veggie" meals there will be a strong interaction between the teams in which certain level of traditional approach in nutrition will be taken into consideration. Then, after the first phase is finished, each team will visit other partners institutions and facilities introducing their national preferences, hence offering practical transfer of know-how not just for the teachers & students to the relevant institution, but to the interested entrepreneurs as well.
Finally, each country will have 1-day Multiplication event which will be used to present what can be used as a foreign experience when it comes to expanding the tourist offer. Not to be neglected, the second output which deals with management of hotels & restaurants will have its regional approach as well. During the implementation phase each institution will delegate 2 members which will work along their counterpart trying to define what parameters should be a part of the software.