University of Silesia in Katowice

Program: ERASMUS+ Cooperation partnerships in vocational eduaction and training (KA220-VET)

Project: 2025-1-HU01-KA220-VET-000354851

Subsidies for Silesia University:  44 790,00 EUR

Project completion time: 01.12.2025 – 30.11.2027 r.

Project Coordinator: dr Natalia Tomczewska-Popowycz

Project implementing entity: Wydział Nauk Przyrodniczych

Project objective:

1. Design an innovative curriculum for the profession of “Roots Tourism Expert”, in collaboration with key stakeholders.
2. Enhance the knowledge, skills and competencies of VET teachers and students in roots tourism, thus facilitating their transition to the labor market and supporting sustainable.
3. Empower VET centres and schools to offer courses that develop relevant skills tailored to the roots tourism’s sector.
4. Create new occupational opportunities that contribute to the economic and sustainable development of rural, remote, and underexploited areas.
5. Adapt the competencies and skills of the touristic field to the roots tourism, to discover a new niche market.
6. Support the economic and sustainable development of less exploited areas and destinations.
7. Provides economic opportunities for communities in rural, remote, and depopulated regions that may face socioeconomic.

Planned outcomes

1. A comprehensive curriculum for “Roots Tourism Operators”, detailing the skills and competencies required to meet the sector’s.
2. A suite of training materials and online modules for VET schools, promoting sustainable tourism practices and local heritage.
3. It will include also a booklet on “Roots tourism and European schools” to explain what roots tourism is, why include in the touristic school curricula, its benefit and it potential in terms of occupation, existing best practices from all over Europe.
4. Sustainable Roots Tourism Action Plans, developed in partnership with schools, local authorities and associations, to outline specific strategies and initiatives to promote sustainable tourism with measures like promoting responsible travel practices, supporting local businesses and artisans, implementing eco-friendly initiatives, and engaging local communities in tourism development.
5. Project’s results will also include a training programme for the partners to create a common knowledge on roots tourism to be deployed during the entire project.

The consortium consists of:

1. Tudás Alapítvány (Hungary)- Leader.
2. Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach (Poland) – Partner.
3. Euphoria Net Srl (Italy)- Partner.
4. ECOCLUB SA (Greece) – Partner.
5. Associação Torrejana de Ensino Profissional (Portugal) – Partner.
6. Provincia di Campobasso (Italy) – Partner.