Smart Tourism and Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas

• application (form);

• copies of the diploma certifying secondary or vocational secondary education and a transcript of grades;

• copies of certificates for the centralized exams in the subjects specified for the particular undergraduate programme;

• for graduates of minority schools—a copy of a certificate of proficiency in the state language at least at Level 2;

• (if the surname has been changed) a copy of a document confirming the change of surname;

• (if applicable) a document certifying that the person voluntarily enlisted in the national defence service and completed it;

• (if applicable) documents certifying social status (a copy of an orphan’s certificate, a statement regarding low-income family status).

1.General Skills Module (9 ECTS)

Objective: to develop students’ general, interdisciplinary skills: communication, foreign language proficiency, intercultural communication, and basic research competencies.

Courses included in the module:

• Professional Foreign Language (English) – 3 ECTS

• Communication Skills and Intercultural Interaction – 3 ECTS

• Applied Research in Smart Tourism and Entrepreneurship – 3 ECTS

2.Basics of Business and Tourism (12 ECTS)

Objective: to provide an understanding of the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, the structure of the tourism industry, and its specific characteristics in rural areas.

Courses included in the module:

• Fundaments of Business Management – 3 ECTS

• Fundamentals of Tourism – 6 ECTS

• Tourism in Rural Areas – 3 ECTS

3. Tourism Business Management (4 ECTS)

Objective: to develop the skills needed to manage a tourism business in a rural setting, plan resources (financial, human, and material), and adapt to market changes. 

Courses included in the module:

• Tourism Entrepreneurship, Resource Planning and Management – 4 ECTS

4. Digital Skills in Tourism Entrepreneurship (12 ECTS)

Objective: to develop practical digital skills: digital marketing, IT tools, e-commerce, data analysis, CRM, and reservation systems.

Courses included in the module:

• Basic Digital Skills in Business – 4 ECTS

• Digital Marketing – 4 ECTS

• IT Tools in Tourism Companies (IT Skills Portfolio) – 4 ECTS

5. Management of Tourist Destinations and Product Development (19 ECTS)

Objective: to develop the ability to plan, manage, and develop tourism destinations; to design sustainable tourism products; and to leverage innovation.

Courses included in the module:

• Management of Local and Regional Destinations – 4 ECTS

• Tourism Product Development – 7 ECTS

• Sustainable Tourism Development – 4 ECTS

• Creativity, Design Thinking and Project Management in Tourism – 4 ECTS

6. Elective Module (6 ECTS)

Objective: to develop targeted, personalized skills tailored to the student’s professional interests.

• Sandra Ežmale, e-mail: sandra.ezmale@malnavaskoledza.lv
  Fundamentals of business management,
  Tourism Entrepreneurship, Resource Planning and Management,
  Analysis of the Operation of Rural Tourism Company and Research of Development Possibilities,
  Creativity, Design Thinking and Project Management in Tourism,
  Development of a Sustainable Tourism Product for a Specific Destination,
  Development of a Tourism Product of an Existing or New Tourism Company

• Rita Riekstiņa-Dolģe, e-mail: rita.riekstina@lbtu.lv
  Applied Research in Smart Tourism and Entrepreneurship

   

• Agita Līviņa, e-mail: agita.livina@va.lv
  Applied Research in Smart Tourism and Entrepreneurship,
  Sustainable Tourism Development,
  Development of a Sustainable Tourism Product for a Specific Destination

• Elita Jermolajeva, e-mail: elita.jermolajeva@malnavaskoledza.lv
  Fundamentals of business management,
  Analysis of the Operation of Rural Tourism Company and Research of Development Possibilities,
  Development of a Tourism Product of an Existing or New Tourism Company

   

• Evita Kļaviņa, e-mail: evita.klavina@malnavaskoledza.lv
  Fundamentals of business management,
  Tourism Entrepreneurship, Resource Planning and Management

• Aleksejs Zorins, e-mail: aleksejs.zorins@malnavaskoledza.lv
  Basic Digital Skills in Business,
  IT Tools in Tourism Companies (IT Skills Portfolio)

   

• Daina Znotiņa, e-mail: daina.znotina@malnavaskoledza.lv
  Communication Skills and Intercultural Interaction

• Andris Skromulis, e-mail: Andris.Skromulis@rtu.lv
  Labour, Environmental and Civil Defence

• Karīne Laganovska, e-mail: karine.laganovska@malnavaskoledza.lv
  Creativity, Design Thinking and Project Management in Tourism,
  Professional Foreign Language (German)* (only for Latvian Students)

   

• Iveta Dembovska, e-mail: iveta.dembovska@malnavaskoledza.lv
  Fundamentals of Tourism,
  Tourism in Rural Areas,
  Analysis of the Operation of Rural Tourism Company and Research of Development Possibilities,
  Organization of Business, Creation of Tourism Services,
  Assessment and Improvement Plan for the Digital Presence of a Tourism Company,
  Hospitality Management and Service Quality in Rural Tourism Enterprises,
  Organisation of Business, Use of Digital Tools in Rural Tourism Enterprises,
  Tourism Product Development,
  Development of a Sustainable Tourism Product for a Specific Destination,
  Development of Tourism Products in Rural Areas,
  Development of Tourism Products in Rural Areas,
  Development of a Tourism Product of an Existing or New Tourism Company

• Santa Krilovska, e-mail: santa.krilovska@malnavaskoledza.lv
  Professional Foreign Language (English),
  Latvian Language* (only for Foreign Students)

• Līga Kondrāte, e-mail: ligakondrate@inbox.lv
  Tourism in Rural Areas,
  Organization of Business, Creation of Tourism Services,
  Assessment and Improvement Plan for the Digital Presence of a Tourism Company,
  Hospitality Management and Service Quality in Rural Tourism Enterprises,
  Organisation of Business, Use of Digital Tools in Rural Tourism Enterprises,
  Development of Tourism Products in Rural Areas,
  Development of Tourism Products in Rural Areas

• Katrīna Bartkeviča, e-mail: sisters@sistering.lv
  Digital Marketing,
  Assessment and Improvement Plan for the Digital Presence of a Tourism Company

• Marta Vorkale, e-mail: marta@vorkale.lv
  Digital Marketing,
  Assessment and Improvement Plan for the Digital Presence of a Tourism Company

   

• Jeļena Kijaško, e-mail: jelena.kijasko@gmail.com
  Assessment and Improvement Plan for the Digital Presence of a Tourism Company,
  Organisation of Business, Use of Digital Tools in Rural Tourism Enterprises,
  Tourism Product Development,
  Sustainable Tourism Development,
  Development of a Sustainable Tourism Product for a Specific Destination,
  Development of Tourism Products in Rural Areas,
  Development of Tourism Products in Rural Areas,
  Development of a Tourism Product of an Existing or New Tourism Company

• Andris Klepers, e-mail: andris.klepers@va.lv
  Management of Local and Regional Destinations,
  Development of a Sustainable Tourism Product for a Specific Destination

• Marta Eglīte, e-mail: marta.eglite@lbtu.lv
  Tourism Product Development

1. Internship in Entrepreneurship and Tourism (4.5 ECTS)

Semester: 1st semester (FT)/2nd semester (PT)

An introductory internship during which students become familiar with the structure of a rural tourism business, its daily operations, customer service, and booking processes. Students observe, analyse, and describe the company’s operations and prepare an internship report. An introductory internship during which students:

• become familiar with the structure of a rural tourism business and the organization of daily work,

• observe customer service and booking processes,

• analyse local tourism offerings,

• participate in simple tasks related to service quality and ensuring the company’s operations.

• Outcome: an understanding of the fundamentals of a tourism company’s operations, the ability to analyse processes, and to propose improvements.

2. Internship I (13.5 ECTS)

Topic: Business organization, use of digital tools in rural tourism businesses

Semester: 2nd semester (FT)/3rd semester (PT)

Business organization, use of digital tools in rural tourism businesses. Students participate practically in the company’s daily operations: organizing resources, developing services, communicating with customers, and using digital tools (booking systems, Google profiles, social media). The company’s operations are analysed, and proposals for improvements are prepared. This is an in-depth internship where students:

• participate in the company’s daily processes,

• practically use digital tools (booking systems, social media, Google tools),

• participate in service preparation and quality control,

• analyse the company’s resources, operational planning, and customer communication,

• prepare proposals for improving the company’s digital presence and efficiency.

Result: the ability to use digital tools in a tourism context and an understanding of how a company’s operations are organized.

3. Internship II (1.5–9 ECTS)

Topic: Development of tourism products in rural areas 

Semester: 3rd/4th semester (FT and PT)

During the internship, students analyse existing rural tourism products, their quality, and their alignment with market needs. The company’s offerings, customer segments, and digital presence are evaluated, and proposals for the development of new or improved products are formulated.

The internship focuses on improving product development skills:

• assessing the potential of the company and the destination,

• analysis of customer segments and market needs,

• assessment of the quality of existing tourism products,

• generating ideas for new or improved tourism products,

• preparing proposals based on an analysis of local resources.

Result: the ability to develop a tourism product concept based on data, market needs, and local resources.

4. Internship II (3–9 ECTS)

Topic: Development of tourism products in rural areas (advanced) 

Semester: 4th semester (FT)/5th semester (PT)

An advanced internship in which students conduct an in-depth analysis of a company or destination, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and the development of practical product development solutions. The internship is often linked to the topic of the thesis – Study Paper.

Final internship, which is also linked to the thesis topic. Students:

• conduct an in-depth analysis of a company or destination,

• evaluate aspects of product implementation, quality, and sustainability,

• test or develop a new tourism product solution,

• apply digital tools in marketing and communication,

• prepare professionally sound proposals for the development of a company or destination.

Outcome: the ability to independently develop and justify tourism product development solutions at a high professional level.

• A well-equipped dormitory and gym.

• Opportunities to participate in projects.

• Opportunities to get involved in student government.

• Opportunities to participate in ERASMUS+ mobility programmes in various European countries.

• Graduates can work at rural tourism businesses, guesthouses, tourist information centres, destination management organizations, marketing and booking platforms, as well as in customer service, product development, and digital marketing roles, engaging in tourism product development, quality assurance, market analysis, and the use of digital tools for business development.

• The opportunity to start an individual business as a self-employed person and create your own tourism product.

• After obtaining the Tourism Services Organizer (LKI 5) qualification, graduates can continue their studies in professional bachelor’s programmes in tourism, business, management, or regional development.

• Opportunity to engage in research in the smart tourism sector, analysing the latest trends and sustainable solutions.