TourXpeRience: Wittenborg's Largest Erasmus+ Project Launches in Palermo

09.04.2025

TourXpeRience Kicks Off, Transforming Tourism Education with XR Technology

On 12 and 13 March, Wittenborg's largest Erasmus+ project to date, TourXpeRience, was officially launched with a kickoff meeting in Palermo, Italy.

Bringing together European partners, the project aims to modernise vocational education and training (VET) in tourism through Extended Reality (XR) technologies. As a key milestone in the Erasmus+ initiative, the meeting set the stage for the next steps, focusing on how XR can enhance digital learning and prepare students for the future of sustainable tourism.

At the meeting, Fahad Shakeel, Deputy Head of School of Business and Kriszta Kaspers, Head of Education Development and Quality Management (EDQM), represented Wittenborg. Reflecting on the project’s goals, Kaspers explained, “The integration of VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), and MR (Mixed Reality) technologies into tourism education offers a unique opportunity to modernise VET programmes. It’s not just about teaching new skills; it’s about creating an immersive experience that prepares students for a sustainable, digital future in tourism.”

Shakeel stated that Wittenborg is responsible for the Assurance of Learning component of the project, and will therefore be involved at every stage to conduct quality audit checks based on the set milestones.

"The project's focus is both contemporary and innovative, exploring the use of extended realities in education delivery within the hospitality sector. It represents a significant stepping stone towards the educational methods of the future."

The meeting saw partners from CETEM (Spain), ITET Marco Polo (Italy), IVEPE-SEV (Greece), and CEIPES ETS (Italy) present their roles in the project. Together, they will develop 26 XR exercises aimed at enhancing tourism-related skills. These will include 20 AR exercises, 5 VR exercises, and 1 MR exercise, designed to equip VET students with the digital skills necessary for the future of green tourism.

During the event, participants were shown demonstrations of the various XR technologies that will be integrated into the project. Kaspers particularly shared her excitement about the potential of XR, stating, “I think I was most impressed by the XR demos that they showed us. These technologies have evolved so much, and there are endless applications in vocational education and training. They can truly revolutionise how we teach tourism and equip students with the skills needed for the future.”

While the meeting was a success, it also highlighted some challenges, such as ensuring the timely delivery of project deliverables and ensuring that the XR tools are effectively applied in VET programmes. These issues were addressed through discussions on setting realistic timelines and refining the technologies to meet the needs of both students and educators.

Looking ahead, the project will focus on the development of training tools, finalising the XR platform selection, and preparing for local training sessions across participating countries.

With a strong emphasis on quality assurance and transforming tourism education, the TourXpeRience project is set to have a long-lasting, transformative impact. As Kaspers concluded, “We’re not just preparing students for the current tourism industry; we’re shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs who will lead the way in sustainable tourism and digital learning.”