Education of Students in Tourism and Recreation Financed by European Social Fund

Abstract

The key challenge that Polish higher education needs to face in the early 21st century is to adjust its educational offer to the dynamic changes taking place within the employment market. Higher vocational schools and universities are expected to provide students with crucial skills that will in the future empower their mobility on the employment market as well as enhance their professional development. The multifaceted modernization of the educational offer could effectively be supported by means of the European Social Fund. The passport to success in such undertakings as launching a new specialization „Tourism and Recreation” within the initiative: „Development of Didactical Potential of The Pedagogical University in Cracow”, financed by ESF, is not only built up on a clever idea (e.g. new, attractive studies) but above all, on committed and wellprepared organizational team. What constitutes the essential factor is the interaction between coordinators along with determined teaching staff, heads of departments, heads of teaching and public procurements divisions, Ministry of Education and Labour, as well as employers and tourism industry experts. The beneficiaries of the projects implemented with the financial support of ESF belong to difficult target groups. Their deficiencies make it hard to stimulate their active participation in the projects and to make them persevere in the given task.