Presentation on ECOLNET workshop, 29th of July 2012 in Tartu, Estonia : Nature based tourism education in Estonian University of Life Sciences

1. Nature based
tourism education
in Estonian
University of Life
Sciences
Lea Sudakova

2. How we started?
• The curriculum of Nature Based Tourism
on bachelors level was dedicated on 2006,
after 3 years masters level was opened and
this Year we have our first PhD student.
• The department of Botany of Agricultural
and Environmental Institute helds the
curriculum, prof. Tiiu Kull

3. Who were involved to
development of curriculum?
• Ecotourism and nature tourism
entrepreneurs
• Lecturers and researchers from related to
NBT fields in EMU and TU
• Murrey Simpson, Oxford University
• Kathy Velander, Edinburg Napier
University
• Roger Evans, privat consultant

4. What are the strenghts?
• 2/3 of curriculum are the nature related
subjects
• Daily and open university students - ca 50
bechelors per year and 10 masters
• Students of open university are usually
already tourism providers and developers
• Wide range of research fields and topics

5. Master theses 2011 and 2012
1. The Role of Botanic Gardens in Nature Tourism,
Profile and Motivation of Visitors in the Example
of the Tallinn Botanic Garden
2. The Lake Peipus area visitation and travel
motives: case study of Iisaku, Pala and Alatskivi
municipalities
3. Development of Tourism Destination on the
Pandivere area
4. Behaviour patterns on Internet on the example of
visitors of Estonian National Parks

6. Master theses 2011 and 2012
5. The change of the coastal grassland vegetation in
response to varying restoration efforts on Silma
nature reserve
6. The importance of food tourism among the
domestic and incoming tourists in Estonia: the
examples of the Võru County and Saare County
7. The changes in the habitat use by the Lesser
Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) in Estonia
during 1990 – 2010

7. Master theses 2011 and 2012
8. The unique qualities of Lower Paleozoic
limestone bedrock of Estonia the possibilities for
geotourism
9. Potential weaknesses in providing nature holiday
services for wheelchair tourists in Estonia
10. Habitats, distribution and reproduction of
Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum in Estonia
11. The factors which influence carrying capacity of
ski tracks and a study of satisfactions of users
12. Corporate social responsibility among Estonian
tour operators