Two new European projects implemented by the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICH) within the framework of the Erasmus+ program, in the prefecture of Chania, were successfully completed with significant added value for tourism education. These are the projects “VETITEC Project Nr. 2024-1-IT01-KA121-VET-000206604” and “PRO SCH 2024-1-IT02-KA121-SCH-000226017”, which focused on the training and apprenticeship of Italian students in the tourism sector.
A total of 22 Italian students from the Alberghiero Public School of Tourism in the city of Spoleto, Italy, were in Crete from May 27 to June 26, 2025, participating in organized internship programs in tourism businesses in the Prefecture of Chania. Through their participation, they had the opportunity to acquire valuable professional qualifications, develop skills, and get to know in practice the requirements of the tourism sector through a real working environment.
At the same time, the trainees came into contact with the mentality, practices, and everyday life of tourism hospitality in Crete, enriching their professional and personal background with international experiences. The action is part of the European Union’s strategic targeting for cross-border cooperation in the field of vocational education and training.
At the same time, the program contributed to strengthening cooperation between European educational institutions, emphasizing the exchange of good practices and highlighting the importance of bicultural interaction. The friendly relations between Greece and Italy were further strengthened, with MAICH acting as a catalyst for this interconnection.
The closing ceremony of the projects took place on Wednesday, June 26, 2025, at the MAICH Conference Center in a warm and festive atmosphere. The participants were awarded apprenticeship and training certificates, which are recognized at the European level, offering them a valuable asset for their professional future in the tourism sector.
During the event, the guests had the opportunity to taste traditional Cretan products, completing their educational experience with an authentic gastronomic touch of local hospitality.
