'The Evaluation of Fáilte Ireland's Tourism Learning Network (TLN) initative - Modelling Best Practice.'

The tourism learning network (TLN) initiative was established by Fáilte Ireland in response to research indicating that the learning needs of the small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Irish tourism industry were not being met. [1]   Indeed, feedback from the SMEs indicated that they wanted training that was “short, snappy, relevant and local” [2] .  Utilising general guidelines, TLNs have been established across Ireland by varying types of providers (academics and/or consultants); further, providers were free to customise the learning to suit the TLN’s individual participant requirements.  The foregoing has resulted in a cross-standardisation of some TLN components as well as a variation between TLNs on delivery methods and other initiative components.  The differences identified between the providers range from variations in emphasis on a particular delivery method, for example, the use of mentoring, to the use of an accreditation scheme in some of the academically backed TLNs.  There are also variations between TLNs facilitated by the same provider as the course content is adapted to suit the participants in the group.  Although flexibility is a desirable component of the TLNs, the variant nature of the TLNs represents a particular challenge to assessing the TLN initiative.  The nation-wide assessment of the TLNs involves, to some degree, a comparison of the different methodologies, facilitation and level of compliance with Fáilte Ireland’s learning outcomes.  The different TLN learning models are of particular interest when developing a ‘best practice’ model