National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM), established in 2004 by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with the State Government, is a premier institution dedicated to education, research, training, and consultancy in the tourism and hospitality sector. NITHM offers specialized programs, including MBA (Tourism & Hospitality Management), BBA (Tourism & Hospitality Management), and B.Sc (Hotel & Hospitality Administration), catering to both Indian and international students. The Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), located in Valmiera, Latvia, is a distinguished European Union (EU) State University recognized for its excellence in applied sciences. In 2016, NITHM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VUAS. This partnership aims to foster student and faculty exchanges (both teaching and administrative), joint research initiatives, international workshops, and conferences, thereby enhancing academic collaboration and global knowledge-sharing.
About the SIPAS Project
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) has sanctioned a pioneering project titled: “Advancing Sustainability and Technology in Tourism, Hospitality, and Service Studies through Strategic Industry Partnerships” (SIPAS). The SIPAS project is designed to strengthen Capacity Building in Higher Education Institutions (CBHEI) by focusing on:
- Developing innovative course modules and delivery mechanisms
- Integrating information and communication technology (ICT) into teaching and learning
- Enhancing collaboration between industry and academia
- Establishing efficient administrative governance frameworks
- Refining project management methodologies
TThe SIPAS project is a collaborative initiative led by a consortium of four esteemed institutions:
- Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), Latvia
- National Institute of Tourism & Hospitality Management (NITHM), India
- Pondicherry University, India
- Instituto Politecnico de Setubal (IPS), Portugal
Project Components and Implementation
SIPAS project encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, including research, training, capacity-building programs, workshops, seminars, virtual lab development, curriculum design, and student/faculty exchange programs. To ensure systematic execution and alignment with project goals, the SIPAS initiative is structured into seven (7) Work Packages, with each consortium member responsible for leading specific “Work Package” while collaborating with others to achieve project milestones. This approach fosters cross-functional synergies and collective expertise in successfully implementing the project.
NITHM’s Role in SIPAS
NITHM officially commenced the implementation of the SIPAS project on March 1, 2025. As part of its commitment to the initiative, NITHM successfully launched the project’s dedicated standalone website, www.sipas.in, on March 21, 2025. This marks a significant step in ensuring transparency, accessibility, and effective dissemination of project-related developments.
Consortium Members:
Disclaimer:
Project SIPAS (Advancing Sustainability and Technology in Tourism, Hospitality, and Services' Studies Through Strategic Industry Partnerships) is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
