In 2025, the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management of the Faculty of Management and Business at the University of Prešov launched a new project supported by the Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth (KEGA 002PU-4/2025) entitled “Support for the Internationalization of Education in Selected Core Courses of the Study Program Tourism, Hotel and Spa Industry”.

The project focuses on innovating the content of selected core courses within the bachelor’s study program Tourism, Hotel and Spa Industry with an emphasis on implementing information about digital technologies, new methods and approaches in destination management, the creation of tourism products, and a wide range of tourism services. Special attention is given to accommodation and catering services, spa operations, guiding, and other services related to tourism.

An important component of the project is international cooperation and the active involvement of students in its activities. In addition to the home faculty, participating students and teachers come from three international partner institutions: CTL Eurocollege Limassol in Cyprus and University of Oradea in Romania. In the coming years, the project’s international cooperation will be expanded to include new foreign partners: PAN-EUROPEAN University, Prague (Czech Republic), University of Debrecen (Hungary), and Silesian University, Opava (Czech Republic).

The main activity of the project’s first year was an international workshop held on October 7, 2025, at the Faculty of Management and Business. In the Faculty’s Scientific Council meeting room, members of the project team from the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management met with students of the bachelor’s program Tourism, Hotel and Spa Industry and the master’s program Management. Distinguished guests from abroad also attended, including Dr. Maria Hadjielia Drotarova, PhD., Head of Research at CTL Eurocollege Limassol, Cyprus, and Dr. Petr Houška, PhD. from PAN-EUROPEAN University in Prague. Additional participants from partner universities in Cyprus and Romania joined the meeting online. The entire event was conducted in English.

The project leader Assoc. Prof. Ing. Anna Šenková, PhD., and the deputy project leader Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Daniela Matušíková, PhD., opened the workshop by presenting the project’s objectives, research and development focus, and expected outcomes over its three-year duration. Dr. Maria Hadjielia Drotarova, PhD., delivered the keynote lectures titled “Introduction to Research Methods in Tourism Services” and “Case Studies – Their Importance and Development”. At the end of the session, students were actively engaged in creating and presenting their own case studies.

In the project’s second year, the main publication output will be a collection of international case studies, co-created by lecturers and students from all participating institutions. The collection will be published in electronic form and made available through the Digital Library of the University Library of the University of Prešov.

During the final discussion, participants shared their insights and feedback, and students expressed their appreciation for the workshop’s implementation and their opportunity to take an active role.

doc. Ing. Anna Šenková, PhD.