The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) signed a partnership agreement to deepen collaboration around sustainable tourism, strengthening the bridge between academic innovation and industry practice.
CSUMB is a public university in the Monterey Bay region of California, committed to supporting innovation and sustainability in higher education through interdisciplinary teaching, research, and partnerships.
Under this partnership, the parties formalized a shared commitment to advance sustainability knowledge, skills, and awareness across the tourism academic ecosystem. Building on GSTC’s global framework and CSUMB’s interdisciplinary strengths, the partnership integrates the GSTC Standards into teaching and professional development, creating clear pathways for students and working professionals to build practical skills.
Courses are offered on campus and online, emphasizing applied learning case studies, peer exchange, and exercises that mirror operational realities so participants can bring actionable ideas back to their organizations and communities.
“At its inception, our program was built with sustainability at its heart. Partnering with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council allows us to align the curriculum with industry-recognized standards and ensures that we are not only preparing students for careers but also equipping them to reshape the future of tourism as leaders committed to stewardship, equity, and innovation. We are excited to be a model for other universities to partner with the GSTC and embed the framework into their curriculum so that, together, we can harness tourism’s transformative power as a force for good.” Dr. Paige Viren, Executive Director, Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management program, Cal State Monterey Bay.
“By partnering with Cal State Monterey Bay, we strengthen the bridge between higher education and industry, using the GSTC Standards as a reference point. This approach builds capacity for students and professionals to apply sustainability learnings in real-day-to-day operations,” said GSTC CEO, Randy Durband.
Universities interested in advancing sustainability in tourism and hospitality can work with the GSTC to shape learning experiences that link classroom insight with real-world needs. GSTC can support program design, short courses, and faculty upskilling, with campus-based, virtual, or hybrid options tailored to institutional goals. Contact our training team to learn more training[@]gstc.org.
