Training of students in the field of Tourism and

Hospitality in St.Petersburg State Polytechnical University

Prof. Yury M. Ivanov, Faculty of Management and Information Technologies (SPSPU, Saint-Petersburg)

Elena G. Nikonchuk – Head of International Educational Projects Department (SPSPU, Saint-Petersburg)

Badajoz(Spain)04.02.2013

St.Petersburg State Polytechnical University was founded in 1899. Among scientists who studied and worked in Polytechnical University are Nobel Prize winners N.N.Semyonov (Chemistry, 1956), P.L.Kapitsa (Physics, 1978) and Zh.I.Alferov (Physics, 2000).

Recently SPSPU became "National Research University", also known in Russia and abroad as Polytechnical Institute — a recognized Russian and world-wide leader in the field of higher engineering and economic education. Currently it also remains at the leading positions in the rating of Russian engineering higher educational institutions.  

At the present time in SPSPU there are 30197 students and postgraduates, 2916 of them are foreign citizens from 96 countries who annually study at different SPbSPU programs. The University is carrying out education in the following areas: engineering, physics, economics, humanities and information technologies.

The University is proud of its longstanding traditions of international cooperation with many foreign educational institutions, research organizations and industrial companies in the field of education and science. Among the University partners there are more than 280 universities, 131 scientific and research institutions and 172 companies from over 55 countries.

Today the Polytechnical University structure includes:

20 Faculties and Institutes More than 150 departments and 120 R&E laboratories Research centers, innovation laboratories, science park Fundamental library — one of the largest scientific and technical

libraries in Russia Student campus International campus Medical center Modern sports center Concert halls etc.

International activities

Nowadays the University has 201 agreements with foreign universities on international educational and research cooperation with HEIs from the USA, Germany, France, Finland, China, South Korea and other countries. The international cooperation is most effective in the fields of - Development and realization of international educational programs making special emphasis on development of programs in English and Joint Degree Programs; - Development of academic mobility;- Joint research.

This work has required a clear positioning of the programmes on the level of higher education, tuning of curricular, using of the competency-based approach, organization of academic mobility of students and teachers, implementation of the ECTS, academic recognition (study abroad, documents) procedures etc.

International activities

As implementation of Bologna Process is one of the important issues of the University strategy the SPSPU is realising comprehensive work in this sphere. Thus in 2003 ECTS system was introduced as an experiment.

In the period from 2004 to 2008 the SPSPU has realised a number of projects on development of organisational and normative documentation supporting University academic cooperation.

As a result there was developed the package of methodological and normative documents supporting academic mobility in compliance with state educational standards of Russian Federation and conceptual issues of the Bologna Declaration.

Nowadays university provides wide range of educational programs for training of bachelors, masters and PhD students. Lately the programs in English have been on the agenda:

• Short-term non-degree programs• Semester programs• Joint Degree Programs• Professional Internships for foreign students

International activities

In the beginning of 2007 SPSPU ranked among Russian innovation Universities. Within the framework of Innovation Educational Program the innovation complex of international science and educational activities resource support was created in SPSPU.

This body provides resource, innovation, normative, marketing support of research and educational activities of university faculties.

In SPSPU there is a Resource centre that provides resource, innovative, normative, marketing support to the educational process of University faculties.

This centre was created within the framework of the Federal Project “Innovation Educational Program SPSPU”.

The department “Management in Socio-economic Systems” 

The department "Management in the socio-economic system" was established in 1976.

Specialization in training students in the field of tourism was established in the department in 1994.

Currently, the department provides training in the specialty "State and municipal management" with specializations: state and municipal administration, tourism management and customs.

The present academic staff of our department of over 50 includes 15 professors, Doctors of Science and 26 Candidates of Science (PhD). The lectures provide study courses that incorporate modern trends in theory and practice of management. Educational programs comply with the internationally accepted standards and are available for international students.

The duration of study:• Bachelor degree 4 years• Master degree – 2 years • PhD degree – 3 years

The department “Management in Socio-economic Systems” 

Students enrolled in tourism each year, beginning with the first course, have compulsory practice for a month. This practice is organized both abroad and in Russia. After the practice, they prepare a detailed report about practice.

Besides students have opportunity studying tourism during semester abroad in university partners. All this contributes to the department involved in international projects in the field of tourism.

Currently, hundreds of graduates of our department work in the tourist companies and hotels Snkt Petersburg.

The department “Management in Socio-economic Systems” 

Our department has been involved in several international projects, such as:

“Strengthening of Training for the Tourism Industry” – EDRUS 9510(TACIS) from 1997 till 1999 and

“International Networking for Modernization of Tourism Education and Developing Academic Mobility”(INTOUR-144641-TEMPUS-2008-FI-JPCR) from 2009 till 2011.

Within the framework of INTOUR project was organizations of distance learning of the course MICE-tourism during one semester for student groups using video-conferencing.

Several students have been on practice during two months in Greece and Portugal.

Were creative and published two new courses: “Organization and management in MICE-tourism” and World global booking systems.”

Also was organized of training tourist agency.

The department “Management in Socio-Economic Systems” 

SPSPU is highly interested in creation of training tourist agency that will be part of the International Network for Modernization of Tourism Education and Developing Academic Mobility as well as in realization of all planned in the project activities aimed at development of this field.

In SPSPU there is a Resource centre that provides resource, innovative, normative, marketing support to the educational process of University faculties and can provide assistance to the creation of training tourist agency, organization of student practice and dissemination of project experience.

In October 2010 was organized in St.Petersburg seminar in within the framework of INTOUR project.

This seminar was held in the Management Training Center in Pushkin.

Management Training Center

Management Training Center was established in 1986 based on the teaching staff of the department "Management in the socio-economic system" Leningrad Polytechnic Institute in order to improve the skills of managers in the theory and practice of management. Head of Department (MSES) Professor Alexander Fedotov and now is the director of the Management Training Center. This center is situated in small palace in Pushkin. It is the former mansion of Duke V.P. Kochubey and was built between 1911 and 1914.

Management Training Center

Management training center offers wide choice of services such as: accommodation, transportation, restaurant and banquet services, training programs, congresses and business seminars and chamber concerts.

The preparation of students in the field of tourism and hospitality having such a wonderful complex gives the department a great opportunity.Students not only have classes at the center and are trained and actively involved in the preparation and carrying out of large congresses and conferences.

Hotel

Hotel of the Management Training Center (Pushkin) is located close to international Pulkovo airport.

The hotel was built in 1991. It was then reconstructed in 2010. The Management Training Center (Pushkin) hotel offers 116

rooms located on 3 floors. There are several suites, single and double rooms of the

hotel. The rooms have all conveniences and are provided with a telephone, TV set, fridge, Wi-Fi.

Restaurant

There's a nice, classy cafe in the basement of the building on the corner. Also there are two nice bar areas in separate rooms and a few large restaurant eating areas with antique furniture.

Conference Rooms and Congress Hall

Management Training Center has congress hall for 150 people, white conference room for up to 120 people in the historical part of the complex, medium and small conference rooms for 60 people for training, the audience of 10-30 people, palatial living rooms for “round tables”and buffets.

The classrooms provided with modern technique and equipment are designed for work in minor groups. Up to 10 groups of 12-15 people each can be simultaneously trained in the classrooms.

The expected role of the university in the project

• Analyze the curricula of universities in order to identify strengths and weaknesses.

• An analysis of the current state of development MICE tourism in St. Petersburg and North-West region of Russian Federation.

• Explore ways to significant growth of the business tourism in these regions.

• Developing partnerships between the universities, tourism companies, hotels and tourism associations.- And others activities