"We're in the fun business" and this came over strongly at the Tourism Society's Academics and Industry meeting at Edexel's smart new headquarters.

As an ex-member of the incoming tourism industry, this is an ex-employers' view of a very interesting evening laid on by the TS at Edexel. Several speakers commented that there were few employers present, but there was a lively debate with Q & As having to be drawn to a close by efficient Chairman John Humphreys before we were locked in.

John explained the event had come about after a plea from a teacher for more industry involvement in tourism courses. He believes passionately in qualifications, and mention was made of the new Diplomas for 14 - 19 year olds; not a vocational qualification, but should be valued by employers. The Government has said it wants 90% of 17 year olds to be involved, but keeps changing the education system. David Airey of University of Surrey commented that the Government had "thrown a number of googlies into the system".

Work placement and sandwich courses came in for praise, with David explaining that all graduates take a one-year work placement (probably why the 'Surrey Mafia' are so successful), but Noreen McCain from VisitBritain said their most successful students mostly came from technical and business courses.

For the incoming industry, languages were a big advantage, and they must have a 'can do' attitude and be flexible.

And Julie Gallagher, of the London Eye and Merlin pointed out "work placements of 6 - 12 months are the most successful for recruiting". They need industry placement, "as lots of undergraduates don't understand Profit and Loss".

Roger Norgrove of Trident from Edexel had bought along two colleagues: Mary Winterbury and Mary Flitton. Trident are the largest provider of work experience for 14 - 16 year olds in the UK, and if the two Marys' enthusiasm was anything to go by, one could see why.

They are keen to see teachers getting out to see "the world of work", and getting industry to share enthusiasm and know-how with students. As their ideas included "organising a scary day at Castle Combe race-track" it is no wonder they find that industry "ARE working with us". It would be interesting to see materials and CD they have developed.

Altogether every speaker had something useful and thought-provoking to contribute, and as Edexel are keen to hold another evening those that missed out this time should make a point of turning up at the next event. However, as Bernard Grimes of ATTT (Assn. Teachers and Trainers in Tourism) pointed out, sadly many so-called tourism teachers just don't become involved.

e-training came in for comment, and Julia Feuell, MD of New Frontiers, mentioned that their website ( www.newfrontiers.co.uk ) had set up a section offering free e-training.

At the beginning of the evening I did wonder what I had done wrong; Salvatore Circelli of Southwark College accused me "it's all your fault", but it turned out I had introduced him to teaching when he was working at our local travel agency, and now he is lecturing at Southwark College - a successful transplant from industry to college. Let's hope there will be more - they what education and industry needs.

Verité Reily Collins FTS