Tourism Attraction can increase the sources of revenue and subsequently improve a destination's performance, but the statistical significance of the potential attractors need additional research and Tourism discipline can offer the necessary tools for these strategic decisions. To this end and in contrast with monitoring reports based on descriptive methods, in this paper we use the two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to analyze the performance of Spanish tourism regions for the period 2008-2011. We apply the Wilson (2007, 2011) double bootstrap procedure in order to investigate to what extent the efficiency of a destination is determined by a group of contextual variables. This two-stage procedure has supposed a turning point in the methodology and there are only a handful of very recent studies of this type in the literature on destination competitiveness. Policy makers should act in consequence with the results derived from the proposed methodology. Spain is the first country in the 2015 WEF competitiveness index and following UNWTO recommendations, it is essential to move towards responsible tourism in all aspects. We address some final considerations about the link between competitiveness and sustainability of the Spanish touristic model.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance of Spanish tourism regions for the 2008-2011 period, to obtain a ranking of efficiency and to examine the hypothesis that the efficiency of these regions is determined by a group of contextual variables. Design/methodology/approach In contrast with monitoring reports based on descriptive methods, this paper uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology and bootstrap semiparametric procedures to correct inherent bias. The significance of a group of exogenous factors is investigated and the importance of each determinant is ordered by its elasticity. Findings The ranking obtained by radial DEA models and by bias-corrected ones describes two remarkably different settings. The exogenous variables influence hypothesis and confirmed: that estimated coefficients are of the correct sign and statistically significant at 5 per cent. Originality/value The statistical significance of the potential attractors can offer an interesting tool for strategic decisions. The two-stage procedure employed has supposed a turning point in the methodology and there are only a handful of very recent studies of this type in the literature on tourism destination performance. In this sense, no previous work has considered the returns to scale test or the separability assumption. Following United Nations of World Tourism Organization recommendations, it is essential to move towards responsible tourism in all aspects. Some final considerations about the link between performance and sustainability of the Spanish tourist model are addressed in this study.

En los últimos años, la metodología de Aprendizaje Basado en Proyectos (ABP) se ha identificado como una de las más adecuadas para mejorar las competencias de los estudiantes de diferentes áreas de conocimientos y nivel de estudios. Esta investigación se centra en la implementación de dicha técnica en los estudios de Máster en Ingeniería Naval y Oceánica, analizando su idoneidad para éste nivel académico, identificar las pautas más óptimas para su ejecución en las clases y poder medir las expectativas iniciales que tienen los estudiantes con el uso de esta metodología docente. Este trabajo reflejará que el uso del ABP es más que idóneo para los estudios técnicos de cualquier rama de la ingeniería, identificará que siguiendo unos sencillos pasos iniciales se puede implementar esta técnica en cualquier asignatura, y mostrará que los resultados iniciales obtenidos reflejan un alto nivel de expectación por parte del alumnado, el cual espera consolidar competencias tan relevantes como el trabajo en equipo, las habilidades de autoaprendizaje o los conocimientos técnicos, así como ayudarles tanto en su presente académico, como en su futuro profesional.

El alumnado de las titulaciones técnicas identifica la necesidad básica de aplicar conceptos matemáticos en múltiples asignaturas, utilizando las herramientas matemáticas para resolver los problemas del resto de áreas. En este punto se ha comprobado que existe una dificultad por parte de los estudiantes de reconocer qué conocimientos matemáticos han de utilizar en cada ejercicio y problema propuesto. Como consecuencia, se ve empeorada la asimilación de las competencias propia de cada asignatura.La presente investigación realiza una serie de propuestas para mitigar esta problemática y ofrecer al docente técnicas que fomenten el aprendizaje de los estudiantes. Por medio de encuestas completadas por los estudiantes, se valorarán las diferentes técnicas planteadas, proponiendo así un abanico de soluciones al alcance del profesorado, capaz de adaptarlas a las asignaturas de los títulos, al perfil de los estudiantes, y a las necesidades del docente.

From the eighties, the importance of Total Quality Management (TQM) in business has been considered as essential for the development of competitive advantages in organizations. In fact, over the years several quality models and prizes have appeared, such as the EFQM model in Europe (European Foundation for Quality Management). This model is based in the consecution of excellent results concerning key, clients, people and society results, through leadership, people, strategy, partnerships and resources, and products, services and processes (EFQM, 2013). Among these elements, human resource management (HRM) is contemplated as a very important factor for the excellent performance of organizations. Given this scenario, few researches have determined if the implementation of a TQM system in an organization and/or the EFQM model, promote the adoption of a qualityoriented HRM system and, if this one, in turn, encourages organizational results. For this purpose, the role of the attitudes of employees favorable to quality, regarding commitment and empowerment, and the role of the human capital existing in the organization, have been contemplated as specially relevant. Therefore, in this study a hypotheses model is proposed, that analyses, on the one hand, the relationship among TQM and some criteria of the EFQM model, concretely the following: Leadership, Strategy and People. On the other hand, the hypotheses model deepens in the relationship between TQM and the adoption of a quality-oriented HRM system, and the possible similarity between People criterion and that system. Last, the influence of the variable quality-oriented HRM system over commitment and empowerment of employees and over human capital value and uniqueness is examined, in order to determine finally its impact on the organizational results (regarding employees and key results). The model has been tested in the context of a sample of 200 companies, from which Human Resource, Innovation, Production and Quality managers participated, getting consequently, four responses from each one of the organizations that took part in the research. The methodology employed to contrast the hypotheses derived from the literature review has been Partial Least Squares (PLS). Regarding results, they show a positive relationship among TQM and People criterion of the EFQM model, Leadership, Strategy and Key results in an organization. In fact, from the EFQM model, it can be empirically concluded that personnel management (represented by the People criterion) is conditioned, most of all, by a good Leadership and an appropriate Strategy, criteria that, in turn, are positively related between them. Furthermore, the results support the need of using quality-oriented HRM systems, in contrast to the use of individual practices. All these quality-oriented human resource practices are adjusted to the People criterion of the EFQM model, facilitating thus continuous improvement in the organization, and acquiring indirectly, better organizational results, both regarding employees and conce...