Reassessing Hospitality Education to Foster Connections Between Industry and Academia

Abstract

The pandemic has had widespread impacts on Hospitality and Tourism, including its educational sector. It has brought challenges such as adapting to technology, addressing student counseling needs, managing enrollments, handling student behavior issues, and ensuring effective practical training in areas like Food Production and Food & Beverage management. These challenges underscore the necessity for reforms within this sector. Traditional academic practices must be reevaluated to incorporate new technologies and innovative teaching methods, while also introducing new subjects like soft skills, startups, and entrepreneurship. The longstanding gap between industry and academia needs to be reexamined, with a focus on enhancing mutual understanding through better information exchange. Research suggests that although academics often propose changes to hospitality training, industry acceptance can vary. While technical skills remain vital, both sectors should prioritize developing critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, strategic planning, and leadership skills in their curricula. The goal should be to equip students with competencies that add significant value. Academic programs offer foundational skills and transferable knowledge, complemented by practical industry experience. Balancing these skill sets presents a significant challenge for both sectors. External factors such as globalization and technological advancements underscore the need for international competencies, emphasizing problem-solving and critical thinking. This paper aims to assess the quality of hospitality and tourism education across various dimensions—curriculum, faculty, strategic planning, administration, student achievement, and resources—and proposes strategies to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between industry and academia.