During the summer of 2018, Miami Sunset’s Hospitality Management and Information Technology program engaged in a significant opportunity by collaborating with Russian high school students to better improve tourism globally.
The project was sponsored by Russian Federation, U.S. corporation Global Initiatives Inc., and Moscow State Technical University. In addition to improving tourism, the purpose of the project was to emphasize the importance of STEM skills and how it can be applied to the challenges of the workforce, in this case being tourism.
The project started in the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. The Sunset and Russian students were divided and mixed with around seven to eight students in per group. Each group competed against one another to create an innovation that will improve tourism in Moscow and Miami.
For six months, Sunset’s students and head department teacher of Hospitality, Milagros Pérez, would have to be up early in the morning on Skype with their Russian partners to work on the project. Genesis Torrez, 11th grade, explained some of the struggles revolving around project.
“The time difference had to be the most difficult part about this project. Their time zone is about a seven-hour difference, so everyone in the class had to be ready to skype them by the time school started early in the morning.”
The complexity of the project really challenged the students because they learned the process of coming up with plans in relation to business/tourism.
“It was really interesting to learn the process behind making a plan like this. Coming up with the ideas, making a business plan, financing and budgeting, and marketing strategy,” Torrez added.
The winning idea to attract tourism was to create an amusement park, resort and a mobile app. The top teams included the following students: Ivan Espinoza and Britney Almeida in first place, Genesis Torrez and Yamig Torres in second place and Felix Jaime and Karina Lola in third.
“The purpose of the amusement park was to be educational for the kids that participate, alongside with a resort to go with the park for everyone in the family to enjoy. The mobile app would be linked to all attractions, waiting times for lines and rides, restaurants.” Yamig Torres explained.
Projects can come with obstacles, especially when it comes to working with people from a different country. Cultural differences and language barriers can cause bumps, however both Russian and Sunset students made it work.
“The language barrier and cultural differences were hard at first, but because everyone was open-minded and understanding, we all made it work and had great results. We learned about the importance of deadlines, how to collaborate with people, and critical thinking skills which will last with us for a long time.” Torres said.
The winners of the project were rewarded with a trip to San Franscio and to also meet their Russian partners in person. During this trip, the students met with a variety of companies to learn more about hospitality and tourism, and as well as visited Stanford University
Although it was very rewarding for the students of Sunset to win during this collaboration project, what was more gratifying was the knowledge and experience that came out of it.
