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What is a BEST EN THINK TANK ?
Upcoming THINK TANK
Past THINK TANKS
 
 
 
  THINK TANK Purpose General Expected Outcomes
  Participants The Conduct of THINK TANKS
 
   
 

BEST EN THINK TANKS are annual three day events seeking to push the field of sustainable tourism research and education forward. They are typically held in the summer at a university where sustainable tourism is taught and researched. They consist of research presentations, keynote speakers, a research agenda THINK TANK, and curriculum development sessions. Each year the THINK TANK has a particular theme and seeks to provide vision and cutting-edge insight to the topic at hand. The theme for the next THINK TANK is: Managing Risk and Crisis for Sustainable Tourism: Research and Innovation.

Research Presentations: Each THINK TANK provides an opportunity for researchers to present their work. A Call for Papers goes out at the end of the previous year and papers are invited and then blind reviewed by an academic review committee.

Keynote Speakers: Key experts in the field are invited to share their knowledge on topics related to the overall theme of the THINK TANK.

Research Agenda: Each THINK TANK provides an opportunity for participants to highlight and explore topics that will be the focus of tourism research in the coming years. Interested researchers are invited to participate in workshops to identify 'hot topics' in sustainable tourism. These research workshops will run in parallel with the curriculum development workshops. For selected hot topic areas, participants will develop a research agenda.This agenda will include identification of the specific problems that require research to be undertaken, exploring the types of approaches that can be taken to develop 'cutting edge' research in these areas, discussion of the likely outcomes of the research, its implications for stakeholder decision making and its policy significance.The research agenda of THINK TANK V includes the development of a suite of tools to identify, reduce and manage risk and crisis management to underpin sustainable tourism development.
 
   
   
 
   
   
  The THINK TANK is open to academics, educators, researchers, government officials, industry experts, sustianability experts, environmental, economic, community and cultural experts in the tourism field. A passion for the topic of sustainability helps but is not necessary. Those willing to be creative, explore new ideas, are comfortable with unconventioanl approaches, and seek a broader perspective to the field are welcome.
   
   
 

The curriculum module part of the THINK TANK uses the Nominal Grouping Technique (NGT) to identify key learning objectives and themes.

   
 
   
 
  1. The process begins with a carefully considered statement of the problem, which is read out by the facilitator.
  2. The facilitator then asks the team to restate the problem or issue in their own words. This stage of problem formulation by the team is important to ensure that it is fully understood before continuing
  3. Each team member then engages in silent generation of ideas and views over a set period of time (usually between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on the scope of the problem). Discussion during this period is not encouraged.
  4. Once this is completed a round robin session collects one idea or suggestion from each team member. The facilitator can ask for clarification, but may not judge or criticize ideas. The ideas are written onto a chart, so that they are visible to the group.
  5. The round robin continues until the ideas begin to dry up. When all team members pass on a round it is time to stop. Once all the ideas have been collected, the facilitator leads a discussion to clarify and rephrase the ideas. This ensures that the entire group is familiar with them. Related ideas can be grouped or merged together in this stage.
  6. The final stage is to select and rank ideas. This is achieved by giving each group member six votes to cast as the ideas are read out. This gives each individual an equal
   
 
     
MODUL University Vienna.
Am Kahlenberg 1. A-1190 Vienna. Austria. dagmar.lund-durlacher@modul.ac.at
For further information please contact the BEST EN Secretary tina.tiller@modul.ac.at
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