s were aimed at maintaining standards consistent with the needs of employing industries and the requirements of providers of more advanced education.

Chris Knol, through Projects International, were contracted by TIA (The Tourism Industry Association) to produce a sector skills strategy targeted at the areas of tourism covered by ATTTO (Aviation and Tourism Training Organisation).  These areas will focus on those who are working in organisations that deliver the visitor experience not only of international visitors, but also domestic tourism.   These areas include: sightseeing and information; outdoor and nature-based activities; events, entertainment and well being; and Maori, culture and heritage.  The Tourism Sector Skills Strategy provides direction to ATTTO in order to ensure that appropriate training processes are in place to meet tourism industry needs.

Projects International undertook a scoping exercise to identify the Tourism sub-sectors to be included in the strategy.  A representative database of tourism businesses and contacts was complied and the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) was contracted to conduct the research.  The findings of the research phase were utilised to form a draft strategy and action plan.  This plan included a detailed process for implementing the skills strategy.  The draft strategy and action plan were presented to ATTTO for discussion.  Projects International then finalised the Tourism Skills Strategy outlining recommendations and actions for the coming years.

Chris Knol, through Projects International, conducted research into the gaps and training/skill needs required for the identified job roles. This research prioritized job related training needs and to validate their Workforce Development Framework. This looked at workplace required skills development against the following:

• Recruitment and promotion of the industry

• Screening and pre-assessment

• Individual learning plans. Creation of personal learning portfolio

• On and off job learning and learning support

• Assessment and moderation

• Qualification alignment, staff retention and lifelong learning

Projects International developed a travel sector skills strategy, which was documented, adopted by industry and publicly released.

Chris Knol was project manager of the NZSKILLSCONNECT portal project, achieving the objective ofthree key aspects:

1. Stakeholder Engagement: Thorough consultation was undertaken during the Career Maps and Pathways Project (Phase one) to gather the information, which has developed into the portal content. During the stakeholder engagement phase of NZSkillsConnect further consultation will be undertaken to ensure integrity of the data collected to date, as well as to gain industry feedback to inform the direction and requirements that will lead design of the portal.

2. Development of the NZSkillsConnect Portal: Modica Group was contracted to design the structure and functionality of the web portal. Projects International project managed this component of the project and the development team.

3. Marketing and Promotion: Ocean Design and Ford Thinking was contracted to undertake the brand development, marketing and promotion including the launch of the portal. Projects International e project managed the process and the marketing and promotions team.

The project outcome was to develop and deliver NZSkillsConnect, New Zealand’s hospitality and tourism industry web portal, which provides a vehicle for a diagnostic assessment at the beginning of a learner’s specific qualification ‘journey’. It promotes Tourism and Hospitality careers in what is New Zealand’s largest employment sector (and highest earner of foreign exchange) by providing an integrated package of workforce development information in skills and career development. The portal informs users with accurate, reliable information to make appropriate and correct decisions about qualifications. Employers’ needs will be better met through better-aligned sector qualifications provision.

In summary the project provides a comprehensive online system which:

• Shows career development and training opportunities in hospitality and tourism for school leavers, career changers, people re-entering the workplace and opportunities for professional development for those already embarked on a career.

• Provides information, tools and guidance for workplaces on the available qualifications and short courses that best meet their needs.

Identifies training provision that best suits their staff development and allows employers to both search for new staff and list job vacancies.

• Allows providers their own online space to list their qualifications provision, which meet industry agreed specifications for quality, is updateable by the provider, and demonstrates their connection to industry demand.