NEWS


Lecturer John Garside (left) and Level 3 travel and tourism students Gabby Birch, Harry Bailey, Lily Condley and Evie Rimmer-Mcloughlin hold up Travel Weekly’s April 13 edition, which broke the story. Inset: Andrew Mitchell MP and Garside


Travel lecturers and trade bodies fight moves to defund courses


Samantha Mayling


Travel and tourism lecturers have ramped up their political lobbying efforts to highlight the value of Level 3 qualifications, which face the axe in England. A petition calling on the


government to recognise the importance of tourism, hospitality and events (THE) education to the UK economy was approaching 1,000 signatures within five days of launch. Meanwhile, travel


studying for the Level 3 qualifications. Keegan – a former Travelport


and Amadeus executive – declined to comment on the subject when approached by Travel Weekly. The changes are part of DfE plans


STORY TOP


and tourism students at Birmingham Metropolitan College joined their lecturer on April 21 to lobby their MP – Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield – about the Department for Education’s plans. Mitchell pledged to take a letter


about their concerns to education secretary Gillian Keegan after he met John Garside, lecturer in travel and tourism and aviation, and those


travelweekly.co.uk


to streamline the post-16 Level 3 qualifications system with a focus on A-levels and technical T-levels. Garside urged industry colleagues to sign the petition, which builds on mounting collective travel industry opposition led by Abta and other trade bodies. Dr Peter Robinson, head


of the centre for tourism and hospitality management


at Leeds Beckett University, circulated the petition as part of a “suite of activity” planned ahead of a conference in October. The Institute of Travel &


Tourism’s Future You Foundation – which gives students ideas and inspiration for their careers – described the defunding plans as “short-sighted” and “damaging” to the sector.


It urged industry professionals to


support the tourism skills working group set up with Abta and other travel and educational associations to coordinate the sector’s response. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer


said: “There is still an opportunity to replace the current travel and tourism qualifications with a new type of qualification once the current courses cease to be funded by government.” Commenting on the working


group, he added: “An important part of what lies ahead will be about providing evidence that there is a demand for the students that take these courses within the industry. We will need members and the wider industry to help us in that effort.” There is also a wider lobbying


campaign in higher education – using the slogan #ProtectStudentChoice – as the plans affect other subjects beyond travel and tourism. The #ProtectStudentChoice


coalition of 30 educational organisations has also lobbied the education secretary.


Mike Renshaw, a travel and


tourism lecturer from Sunderland College, said: “If this [defunding] decision is implemented, the industry will be left with a Business T-level or in-company apprenticeships.” Agents were also critical of the


government plans for courses aimed at those aged 16 to 19. Westoe Travel owner Graeme


Brett said: “The proposed changes are crazy. This will impact the number of people considering [careers in] travel, tourism and hospitality. “As an industry that lost tens


of thousands of experienced professionals during Covid, there is massive demand for training to enable employers to recruit staff.” Ashley Quint, director of


TravelTime World, said: “We need to do better at highlighting the importance of travel to government. “This is the latest in a long line


of setbacks for travel and we need to


reverse the tide quickly.” i To sign the petition, go to: tinyurl.com/THEL3petition


27 APRIL 2023 5


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