The National Academy Foundation’s (NAF) Academy of Hospitality & Tourism’s (AOHT) is partnering with the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP) to enable high school students to earn an industry-recognized certificate. The program of study will include NAF Hospitality & Tourism courses, GTTP’s Passport to the World curriculum, and NAF’s series of student assessments.
The GTTP’s mission is to expand Travel & Tourism-related educational and career opportunities for secondary school students at a time when they are making career choices and to develop their awareness of the importance of Travel & Tourism, the world’s fastest growing industry, to their country’s economy and the global economy.
“By partnering with GTTP we are able to provide a valuable credential – proof that young people are ready for careers in the travel and tourism industry,” said Andy Rothstein, PhD, Special Advisor on Educational Policy of NAF.
“A comprehensive certification process allows students to demonstrate that they have met meaningful standards, something that is important for our industry,” said Nancy Needham, Executive Director of GTTP.
To obtain this certificate Academy of Hospitality & Tourism students will need to successfully complete end-of-course exams for four NAF courses, the Passport to the World course, four culminating project assessments, and an internship assessment. This multi-faceted assessment system is unique as its components evaluate both the college and the career readiness skills that students develop through NAF’s rigorous career-related curricula and work-based learning activities.
The National Academy Foundation’s network of 62,000 students participating in over 500 academies includes 9,200 students in 82 Academies of Hospitality & Tourism across 21 states. Seventy-five percent of whom are Black or Hispanic.
The GTTP is a multi-country educational program to introduce students to career opportunities in Travel & Tourism. To date, more than a 1.5 million students in twelve countries have participated in the GTTP. School systems provide teachers and classrooms; local and international companies provide financial and in-kind support. Some 2,900 local businesses share their expertise with teachers and students.
