UPDATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE COLLEGE OF TOURISM
The article presents an alternative model for updating curricula in the College of Tourism, in accordance with the requirements of the labor market. The main purpose of the model is to achieve a level of professional education necessary for and adequate to socio-economic needs of the society, the state educational requirements and European standards. The article characterizes a number of measures and procedures to improve the quality of training and qualifications for future tourism personnel in the service sector. For this purpose the author proposes permanent development and implementation of educational concepts in the following areas: updating curricula with practical application of cases of different academic disciplines; setting tasks that involve creativity when there is a decision-making process in unusual situations; development of students’ ability to work in a team; improving the quality of the theoretical training of students; a wider integration in the educational process of information and communication technologies; higher quality of teaching which include the use of interactive methods that provide the cognitive activity of students in the learning process; an active use of the material and technical basis in order to increase the effectiveness of training; use of the library fund, computers and Internet connections in order to improve the students’ activity during lessons. In line with the model updating educational programs is conducted annually and is associated with the need to achieve compatibility between the requirements of the labor market in the face of employers and the skill level of students graduating from educational institutions. Essential component of the model is obtaining professional qualifications for students through the use of practical experience, obtaining specific professional knowledge, practical skills and betterment of skills.