synergies4VET · Project 2025-1-DE02-KA210-VET-000362986

Results of the synergies4VET Online Survey

As part of the Erasmus+ project synergies4VET, an EU-wide online survey was conducted among professionals and learners in the hospitality and tourism sector. The aim was to identify current skills gaps, training needs, and preferences for digital learning formats, providing an evidence base for the three synergies4VET learning modules: Food Waste Management, Climate-Smart Cooking, and Sustainable Hospitality Management.

survey responses: 80
from Germany: 37.5%
from Greece: 33.75%
from Italy: 26.25%

Country of respondents

Germany: 37.5%
Italy: 26.25%
Greece: 33.75%
Other country: 2.5%

Who took part?

Respondents included SME representatives from the sector (32.5%), learners/apprentices (31.25%), VET trainers/educators (17.5%), and other professionals (18.75%). Over 43% have more than seven years of professional experience in the sector, lending strong practical relevance to the findings.

Respondent profile

SME representative: 32.5%
VET trainer / educator: 17.5%
VET learner: 31.25%
Other: 18.75%

Years of experience in the sector

Less than 1 year: 10%
1–3 years: 37.5%
4–7 years: 8.75%
More than 7 years: 43.75%

How important are the following aspects for future training in the hospitality and tourism sector?

Participants rated their own needs from 0 (low) to 5 (high) across six topic areas. The chart shows the share who rated the priority 4 or 5.

Importance of aspects of future training

Food waste prevention: 88.75%
Sustainability practices: 72.5%
Innovation & new business models: 71.25%
Digital tools & digital learning: 70%
Customer experience: 66.25%
Green skills: 62.5%

Where are the biggest skills gaps?

Digital skills were cited most frequently (50%), followed by management and organisational skills (42.5%), sustainability and environmental practices (38.75%), and problem-solving/adaptability (37.5%). Respondents could select up to three options.

Main skills gaps in the hospitality & tourism sector (multiple choice)

Digital skills: 50%
Management & organisational skills: 42.5%
Sustainability & environmental practices: 38.75%
Problem-solving & adaptability: 37.5%
Innovation & new business models: 28.75%
Communication & customer service: 27.5%
Green skills: 27.5%
Other: 6.25%
Customer experience: 5%

How well do current training programmes fit?

Only 11.25% rate existing training programmes as fitting the sector’s real needs “very well”; 37.5% consider them “not very well” suited — a clear signal for further development.

Fit of current training programmes with real sector needs

Very well: 11.25%
Quite well: 47.5%
Not very well: 37.5%
Not at all: 2.5%

Preferred learning formats and content

Practical on-the-job training is rated by far the most effective (85%), ahead of face-to-face training (46.25%) and blended learning (32.5%). For digital training content, respondents most want short modular courses (52.5%), practical case studies and interactive activities (50%), and certified online courses (43.75%).

Most effective training formats

Practical / on-the-job training: 85%
Face-to-face training: 46.25%
Blended learning: 32.5%
Online learning: 18.75%

Most useful training elements (multiple choice)

Short modular courses: 52.5%
Practical case studies & interactive activities: 50%
Online courses with certification: 43.75%
Practical tools for SMEs: 36.25%
Collaborative learning activities: 35%
Videos and multimedia resources: 23.75%
Micro-credentials / digital badges: 10%

Barriers to digital learning

The biggest barrier cited is limited motivation (43.75%), followed by lack of relevance to real work needs (33.75%) and lack of digital skills (27.5%).

Main barriers to participating in digital or online training (multiple choice)

Limited motivation: 43.75%
Lack of relevance to real work needs: 33.75%
Lack of digital skills: 27.5%
Technical difficulties: 26.25%
Lack of time: 25%
Poor quality of training content: 20%
Limited internet/device access: 13.75%
Other: 5%

These findings feed directly into the design of the synergies4VET learning modules: compact, practice-oriented, modular digital training formats closely aligned with real workplace requirements in hospitality.

Source: synergies4VET Online Survey, EU Survey statistics export, 30 June 2026 (n = 80). Erasmus+ Project 2025-1-DE02-KA210-VET-000362986.