ENOTOUR Project Advances Micro-Credentials in a Meeting in Vila-seca, Spain
From October 23 to 25, 2024, the Universitat Rovira i Virgili hosted a pivotal meeting of the ENOTOUR project, co-funded by the European Commission, in Vila-Seca, Spain. The event gathered key stakeholders from academia and industry to discuss milestones, deliverables, and the future of micro-credentials in higher education.
Frank McMahon’s Insights on Micro-Credentials
A highlight of the meeting was the intervention of Frank McMahon, who provided an in-depth introduction to micro-credentials. He emphasized their role in bridging the gap between universities and enterprises, fostering industry-led education models. He also pointed to the European framework on micro-credentials as a guiding document, stressing the need for alignment between university quality assurance systems and micro-credential recognition. This aligns with ENOTOUR’s broader goal of integrating flexible, skills-based learning opportunities into the educational ecosystem.
Key Decisions and Next Steps
During the wrap-up session, participants outlined key advancements and upcoming priorities:
- Online Training Courses Development: ENOTOUR will continue its development of Online Training Courses, ensuring their accessibility and quality. A pilot will be launched in early 2025, testing the integration of micro-credentials.
- University Collaboration: A dedicated online meeting will be scheduled with micro-credential offices from the University of Padova (UNIPD) and Rovira i Virgili University (URV) to explore cooperation in issuing and housing micro-credentials on the ENOTOUR platform.
- Industry Engagement: The project is strengthening ties with wineries, with plans to expand virtual experiences and establish a strategic partners’ section on the ENOTOUR website.
Strengthening the ENOTOUR Ecosystem
Beyond micro-credentials, the event also focused on virtual components and industry collaborations. The recruitment of wineries for piloting a self-assessment tool was approved, and additional stakeholders expressed interest in promoting immersive virtual experiences on the ENOTOUR platform.
Looking Ahead
The meeting in Vila-seca reaffirmed ENOTOUR’s commitment to innovation in education and industry collaboration. As the project moves forward, it will continue refining its micro-credential strategy, ensuring alignment with European standards, and expanding engagement with enterprises and higher education institutions. With a strong foundation set in Vila-seca, ENOTOUR is poised to shape the future of education in the wine tourism sector and beyond.
