Conceptualising the contribution of traditional and virtual internships to the employability of hospitality management undergraduate students in Australia

Abstract

The present research explores the significance of internship programs to the development of hospitality management undergraduate student employability. While tertiary institutions characteristically embed traditional hospitality internships as a part of undergraduate curriculum, virtual internships are a relatively recent phenomenon. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its devastating and unprecedent impacts on hospitality and allied industries, has intensified calls for flexibility in the design and delivery of internships for hospitality and other tertiary learners. This thesis explores how internship learning experiences contribute to the employability of hospitality management undergraduate students in Australia. As part of this undertaking, the benefits and challenges of virtual internships compared to traditional internships is investigated for hospitality degree curriculum in Australia. This research is a qualitative study drawing on an inductive and exploratory approach. Indepth interviews using purposive sampling with 15 participants from three key stakeholder groups (academics, industry partners and undergraduate students) offer a rich context in which to understand the contribution of traditional and virtual internships for graduates’ postdegree employability. The interviews were transcribed and coded using computer software NVivo and the collected data analysed using thematic analysis. The study findings illuminate how internship programs significantly contribute to the development of hospitality student employability skills. Internships are recognised as providing students with a huge competitive advantage in the employment market when compared with those who did not partake in an internship experience. Whilst internships in the hospitality context are favoured to be expanded and implemented in a traditional manner, some stakeholders across student, industry and academic groups remained sceptical about how virtual internships might usefully contribute to graduate employability. Equally others perceived the potential value of this medium especially for students seeking employment in hospitality and tourism management settings. Additionally, virtually mediated were seen to reflect emerging work futures and meet the needs of a student cohort who are increasingly navigating work and tertiary study. Accordingly, the study findings and discussion contribute to the development of best-practice design and delivery of impactful work-integrated learning internship opportunities to enhance the employability of the incoming hospitality labour force and assist with stimulating the economy.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Western Sydney University
Supervisor	Karina Wardle (Supervisor)