AIUB participates in 5th Transnational Project Meeting of the Erasmus+ SOHO Project held in Lyon, France

The 5th Transnational Project Meeting of the Erasmus+ SOHO Project was successfully hosted by Université Lumière Lyon 2, France, on 27–28 November 2025.

The SOHO initiative—Smart, Optimized, High-quality, and On-demand Tourism Innovative Education for Sustainable and Green Development (2023–2026)—aims to modernize tourism education while fostering international collaboration for sustainable and green development, according to a media release. 

A key focus of the project is the establishment of Knowledge & Competence Centers (KCCs) in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, envisioned as regional hubs for capacity building, innovation, and partnership. In support of this goal, the consortium is developing new academic courses in Smart Transportation, Sustainable Accommodation, and Renewable Energy Integration, creating pathways for future tourism professionals and entrepreneurs.

The Lyon meeting brought together representatives from nine leading universities across Europe and Southeast Asia for two days of strategic discussions.

Sessions, held at the IUT Lumière Lyon, focused on curriculum finalization, digital integration, smart tourism technologies, and sustainable education solutions.

The AIUB delegation included Prof. Dr. Md. Abdur Rahman, Pro-Vice Chancellor, and Associate Professor Dr. Chowdhury Akram Hossain, Head of Computer Engineering.

More than 25 participants attended both in person and online. The program concluded with a guided tour of Lyon and networking dinners, further strengthening collaboration among partners.

The SOHO Project consortium comprises universities from Romania, France, Italy, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

These transnational meetings reaffirm the project’s commitment to building a greener, smarter, and more inclusive future for tourism education through strong regional and international cooperation, the release adds.