To deepen the college's exchange with the international vocational education community, enhance its internationalization level, enrich the Sino-Greek Qinling Workshop project, and drive high-quality development, two faculty members from ShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance & Economics, Ms. Gao Yan and Ms. Bai Weihua, undertook a teaching visit to Greece from June 16th to 24th, 2024, upon the invitation of the Orison Vocational Education School. The visit focused on in-depth discussions regarding the tourism and hotel industries, talent cultivation, curriculum systems, and industry-academia collaboration.
On June 17th, Nikos Stakias, Director of International Relations at Orison Vocational Education School, accompanied the twoShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance & Economicsteachers to meetings withIlias Kalfakakos, Education Project Development Manager of the Mycenae Chamber of Commerce, and Dimitris Patriarcheas, Deputy General Manager of the Hotel Association. During these meetings, Gao Yan presented on the current state of smart tourism development in China, the development of Shaanxi's tourism market, and the distinctive features ofShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's talent cultivation system for the Tourism Management program. Bai Weihua elaborated on the long history and prosperity of China's catering industry, the scale of hotel development, the curriculum ofShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's Hotel Management and Digital Operation program, and the successful practices of its industry-academia cooperation model. Subsequently, Ilias Kalfakakos outlined the talent gap in the tourism and hotel market of Kalamata City, while Dimitris Patriarcheas detailed the scale of star-rated hotels in the Mycenae region, their opening dates, employee qualifications, and salary structures. Both sides also engaged in extensive and profound exchanges on professional qualifications for students in Tourism Management and Hotel Management & Digital Operation, as well as skill competitions.
From June 18th to 19th, the two teacherswentto Pylos for a study tour, visiting five top-tier hotels including Karalis, W Costa Navarino, and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino. The President of the Mycenae Regional Hotel Association, also Chairman of Karalis Hotel, provided a detailed introduction to the development history of the local hotel industry and Greece's star-rating system for hotels. He also arranged a meeting with Panayotis Karvelas, Mayor of Pylos. The Mayor expressed strong approval of the educational collaboration between the institutions and expressed his hope for its further deepening and implementation.
The teachers subsequently visited W Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, both belonging to the luxury Costa Navarino group and employing over 3,000 staff collectively. At W Hotel, HR Director Athina Balta personally accompanied the teachers on a tour of departments including rooms, front office, food and beverage, and the bar, while providing detailed insights into the competency requirements, salary structures, and employee recognition mechanisms. Atthe Westin Resort, HR Director Eva Kalaitzidou and Training Manager Kalliopi Kavalari held in-depth discussions with the teachers on further industry-academia collaboration. Kalaitzidou specifically expressed strong interest in hosting SXFTC students for internships at the Westin hotel.
On June 20th, aiming to better understand the Greek education system and teaching methodologies while showcasingShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's experience in integrating work and learning and combining theory with practice, the two teachers visited Orison Vocational Education School. They discussed Sino-Greek vocational education models with the local faculty and delivered demonstration lectures on the courses "Tour Product Design" and "Food and Beverage Service and Management." Giannopoulos Nektarios, Head of the Hotel Department at Orison Vocational Education School, remarked thatShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's teaching model, closely aligned with industry needs, is an effective pathway for cultivating high-quality technical talents with innovative spirit and practical ability. He also expressed hope for more future exchanges and cooperation to mutually enhance educational standards.
On June 21st, accompanied by Nikos Stakias, theShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economicsteachers visited four local characteristic restaurants in Kalamata, including Oninopantopoleion. A key meeting was held with Marilena Gyftea, a member of the ruling Greek political party, a candidate for the Greek Parliament, a local influential figure, and Chairman of a major hotel in Kalamata. They engaged in deep exchanges regarding local culinary characteristics, the development history of hotels in Kalamata City, and local government support policies for the tourism, hotel, and catering industries.
On June 22nd, to consolidate the outcomes of the visit,twoteachers held a roundtable meeting with Fotios Bougas, Principal of Orison Vocational Education School. They discussedShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's international education philosophy, its current international teaching practices, the results of the Kalamata visit, andShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's distinctive Wheat Straw Painting Master Studio. Principal Bougas spoke highly ofShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's international teaching standards and eagerly anticipated deeper industry-academia collaboration between the institutions, starting with student internships and employment in Kalamata, to jointly promote profound cooperation and mutual learning in education.
Though the stars are vast and distant, we strive relentlessly towards the heavens. This teaching visit not only strengthened ties with the Greek vocational education community and deepened cooperation in talent cultivation for the tourism and hotel industries but also demonstratedShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's achievements in high-quality international development. Through in-depth exchanges, the faculty members not only gained insights into the Greek education system and teaching methods but also showcasedShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economics's advanced experience andachievementsin the field of vocational education.ShaanxiTechnicalCollege of Finance &Economicswill continue to deepen the Sino-Greek Qinling Workshop project, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the international vocational education community, jointly promote the international development of vocational education, and contribute to cultivating more high-quality technical and skilled talents with international perspectives and innovative spirit.
