Students have put their classroom learnings to practical use through a creative work integrated learning experience which aims to deliver positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
The Tourism Regional Immersion Project (TRIP) enabled tourism enterprises in the regional councils of Toowoomba, Somerset, Moreton and the Lockyer Valley to benefit from the insights and creative minds of 17 School of Tourism students who undertook placements in October.
The competitively selected students completed different tasks in accordance with the needs of each region, including creating online business profiles, conducting surveys and analysing data, and developing day trip trails.
They also shared fresh perspectives on marketing and development opportunities which may help to attract more visitors to the regions.
After hosting TRIP students in 2010 and again in 2011, Lyn Cooley from Moreton Bay Regional Council said she was extremely impressed with the students' level of comprehension of the tasks and their outcomes.
"I thank TRIP for the opportunity to host these students and find it invaluable to view the state of the industry through their eyes," Ms Cooley said.
As part of their projects, students documented their experiences on dedicated Facebook sites, enabling their peers to gain insight into the practical learning opportunity.
International student Ng Cheuk Hei said: "I was put in a position to be independent and take initiative; being in an unfamiliar region was a great experience."
Since beginning as a fledgling pilot project in Roma, western Queensland in 2006, TRIP is now a fixture of the Work Integrated Learning strand of the Tourism professional development course.
Students gain access to practical, real-life situations through a program that also delivers real benefits for the regions involved.
The program is endorsed by the Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business, The Hon. Jan Jarratt MP, who said: "This initiative is a fantastic example of how collaborative efforts between the higher education sector, tourism operators and regional tourism authorities can in turn benefit the community."
TRIP is also supported by Brisbane Marketing and Queensland's peak tourism bodies including Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.
Media: Claire Shuter on 07 3346 9259 or c.schuter@uq.edu.au.
