ICTs as a gateway to lifelong learning and training for World Heritage and Tourism: the case of “Tourism Management at UNESCO World Heritage Sites (vol.2)” MOOC
Abstract: Communication and learning are realities that permeate human existence. From the moment Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) were born, education has naturally adopted them, shaping learning environments in new and unexpected ways. Tourism businesses and tourists alike have been deeply affected by the new technological advancements, changing the ways they operate and interact with each other at an incredible pace. ICTs have started to play a major role also within Tourism education at different levels, so to meet specific needs and requirements, in particular when it comes to a sector characterized by a chronic lack of skills, high turnover, seasonality, and small, medium and micro enterprises, which do not allow workers to attend regular academic courses. MOOCs – Massive Open Online Courses in particular are proving to be a viable solution to meet such needs. In this paper, the case of a MOOC devoted to Tourism Management of UNESCO World Heritage Sites is presented, outlining the characteristics of its learners, and exploring their engagement.