<< Background >>The INCOME Tourism aims at developing a new learning approach based on a cooperative learning process joining higher education and tourism businesses applied to soft skills learning to be incorporated in the last year of the Tourism Bachelor (EQF6). Although some efforts can be found in different higher education contexts, there is still the need and potential to bring academia and industry together in a new cooperative learning model to get a curriculum focusing on soft skills.<< Objectives >>NCOME Tourism seeks enhancing tourism graduates´ soft skills, taking into account the employers’ demand for skills and qualifications, through an innovative, integrated learning approach, involving businesses in the designing and piloting process, building a sustainable partnership between HEIs and industry, addressing the identified skills gaps.<< Implementation >>6 HEIs from 6 countries collaborate with tourism businesses and tourism associations in the identification of graduate relevant skills have identified the need of further development of soft skills; a new cooperative learning model was developed, supported by the dual system of DHBW, supported and implemented by the HEIs in close consultation with the companies involved. Practical learning contexts are set, involving the learning trios – students, in-company tutors and HEI tutors.<< Results >>Soft Skills needs assessment; standardized soft skills curriculum; A new cooperative learning model, fostering collaboration between HEIs and companies; Qualification of young professionals with higher employability potential; matching skills exercise and the work based model; integration of young people into the labour market and consequently reducing their unemployment; A Memorandum of cooperation was signed.