Smart Tourism Academy:Experiential learning in action

Late February, a group of 25 Hospitality and Tourism students from the University of Nicosia joined faculty members Mr. George Panayiotou, Mr. Leonidas Efthymiou, and Ms. Yianna Orphanidou for a field research visit to the European Conference on Sustainable Tourism: Celebrating 20 Years of CSTI Leadership in Sustainability, held in Nicosia. The conference was organized by CSTI under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, with the UNIC School of Business serving as Academic Partner.

This field research trip formed part of the Erasmus+ Smart Tourism Academy project, 2025-1-SK01-KA220-HED-000362455, which supports modern higher education in green and regenerative tourism. More specifically, it aligns with the project’s WP2 Education & Training fieldwork activity in Cyprus, assigned to the University of Nicosia.

By taking part in this high-level conference, our students gained firsthand exposure to current discussions on how tourism can balance growth with environmental protection and community benefit. The event brought together experts, policymakers, academics, and sector stakeholders, giving students valuable insight through panel discussions, networking, and direct engagement with sustainability-focused tourism practice.

UNIC also maintains a strong institutional relationship with CSTI. The University of Nicosia is a CSTI member and has been recognized as a CSTI Academic Partner, while Ms. Yianna Orphanidou serves on the CSTI board as Board Director. This participation reflects and align with UNIC’s commitment to sustainability, applied learning, and preparing the next generation of tourism professionals for a more responsible and future-focused industry.