A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Challenges of Establishing An Effective Hospitality Work Based Learning Program At UiTM
Keywords:
hospitality industry, hospitality program, internship challenges, work base learning coordinator, work base learning studentAbstract
This phenomenological study explores the complexities involved in establishing a successful hospitality internship program at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). The research utilizes the Experiential Learning Theory as a framework to examine the experiences of seven work base learning (WBL) coordinators from UiTM and employing interviews with semi-structured questions and thematic investigation as the primary methodologies. The study extensively identifies and analyzes key themes, including behavior, restriction, diversion, placement, sexual misconduct, expectation, and student readiness. Through comprehensive exploration, the findings highlight the complex challenges confronted by work base learning coordinators in ensuring the effectiveness of WBL programs within the hospitality sector. It emphasizes the crucial need to address these challenges to elevate the quality and efficacy of hospitality WBL programs at UiTM. The study's findings are expected to offer valuable guidance for all relevant stakeholders, aiding in the enhancement of WBL program design and strategies, particularly within the hospitality business. Moreover, it is expected to offer students and coordinators with essential insights which allowing them to effectively prepare for and address the challenges associated with coordinating and participating in the internship procedure.
References
Ahmad, A., Hussain, K., Ekiz, E., & Tang, T. (2020). The advancement of hospitality and tourism education in Malaysia. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 12, 145-153 https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt-12-2019-0078
Ahmad, A., Hussain, K., Ekiz, E., & Tang, T. (2023). Workforce challenges in the Malaysian hotel industry. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 15(2), 134–145. https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt-2023-0012
Aljumah, A. (2023). The impact of job training on recruitment and employability skills among graduates. International Journal of Professional Business Review. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i10.2806
Andersson, K., & Cummings, T. (2023). Work-based learning in hospitality: Trends and implications. Journal of Workplace Learning, 35(3), 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1108/jwl-2023-0023
Aziz, F. A., & Subramaniam, N. (2023). TVET in Malaysia: Current situation, challenges and recommendations. Penang Institute. https://penanginstitute. org/publications/issues/tvet-in-malaysia-current-situationchallenges-and-recommendations
Bittmann, F., & Zorn, V. (2024). When choice excels obligation: about the effects of mandatory and voluntary internships on labour market outcomes for university graduates. Higher Education, 80, 75-93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00466-5.
Chen, Y., & Gan, N. (2021). Sustainable development of employability of university students based on participation in the internship promotion programme of Zhejiang Province. Sustainability, 13(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313454
Creswell, J. D. (2022). Research design, qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach. Sixth Edition. Sage Publication.
Chowdhury, S., & Wilson, M. (2024). The role of supervision in successful internships: Evidence from the hospitality industry. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, 36(2), 123–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/jhte.2024.0143
Cui, Y., & Abukhalifeh, A. (2022). Does the hotel internship improve students' intention of employment in the hotel industry? Journal of Studies in Education. https://doi.org/10.5296/jse.v12i2.19436
Deng, F., Zhou, R., & Wu, Y. (2023). Skills mismatch in hospitality internships: A systematic review. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 75(4), 567–590. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2023.202120
Dung, T. (2023). Investigating English-majored students’ levels of satisfaction with their internship experiences: A case study at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance. VNU Journal of Science: Education Research.
Fei, Y. C., Waheeb, W., & Sulaiman, S. B. (2020). Student internships: A selective review. Journal of Applied Technology and Innovation, 4(2), 1-5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342570793_Student_Internships_A_Selective_Review
Harrison, T., & Lin, X. (2023). Bridging the gap: Industry-academia collaborations for improved hospitality internships. Tourism Management, 97, 104777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104777
Hora, M. (2023). Problematizing college internships: Exploring issues with access, program design, and developmental outcomes in three U.S. colleges. Proceedings of the 2023 AERA Annual Meeting. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341293930_Problematizing_college_internships_Exploring_issues_with_access_program_design_and_developmental_outcomes
Hyasat, A. S. (2022). The experiential learning theory as base for tourism and hospitality courses and internship programs. Indian Journal of Economics and Business, 21(1), 291-303. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358662552_The_Experiential_Learning_Theory_as_Base_for_Tourism_and_Hospitality_Courses_and_Internship_Programs
Isaacs, A., Raymond, A., Jacob, A., & Hawkings, P. (2023). Job satisfaction of rural medical interns: A qualitative study. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, 31(2), 149–159. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.12999
Ismail, N., & Kinchin, G. (2023). The construct of phenomenological analysis: A case study of interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Egypt Scholars Journal. https://doi.org/10.52649/egscj230809
Karasik, R. (2023). Gerontology internships, practicum, and field work from a faculty perspective innovation in aging. 7, 149 – 149. DOI:10.1093/geroni/igad104.0488
Kim, Y. H., & Spears, D. (2022). Differing career expectations in the hospitality industry: A cross-cultural study. International Hospitality Review, 36(2), 304-321. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/ihr-08-2020-0033/full/html
Liu, F., He, Q., & Wu, N. (2022). Factors influencing students’ career intentions in the hospitality and tourism industries: A meta-analysis. Behavioral Sciences, 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12120517
Liu, F., Zhang, F., Wu, N., & James, N. (2022). Career barriers of hospitality and tourism management students and the impacts on their career intention. Economic Research. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1331677X.2022.2129410#:~:text=https%3A//doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2022.2129410
Martin, E. (2020). Perceived benefits of participating in an undergraduate strength and conditioning internship. International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education, 5, 115 – 131. https://doi.org/10.1080/24711616.2020.1753603
Mensah, C., Azila-Gbettor, E., Appietu, M., & Agbodza, J. (2020). Internship work-related stress: A comparative study between hospitality and marketing students. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 33, 29 - 42. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2020.1726769
Park, J., Kim, Y., Yu, J., Yue, G., & Yoon, E. (2022). Sexual harassment to male hotel employees: An assessment of its negative consequences. Journal of Men's Health. DOI: 10.31083/j.jomh1808173
Qu, H., Leung, X., Huang, S., & He, J. (2021). Factors affecting hotel interns’ satisfaction with internship experience and career intention in China. Journal of Hospitality Leisure Sport & Tourism Education, 28, 100311. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JHLSTE.2021.100311
Pusiran, A. K., Janin, Y., Ismail, S., & Dalinting, L. J. (2024). Hospitality internship program insights. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 12(2), 155-164. DOI:10.1108/WHATT-12-2019-0079
Razak, R., Radha, J., & Ahmad, R. (2022). Exploring hospitality students’ expectation for internship placement during the Covid-19 pandemic: The case of Universiti Utara Malaysia students. Journal of Event, Tourism and Hospitality Studies. DOI:10.32890/jeth2022.2.7
Singh, P., & Ahmed, R. (2023). Academic guidance in internships: A pathway to student success. Educational Research Quarterly, 47(1), 24–38. https://doi.org/10.3102/erq.2023.0471
Skujiņa, R., & Loots, E. (2023). The intern economy in the cultural industry: An empirical study of the demand side. Journal of Education and Work, 33(4), 343–359. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2023.1820961
Taylor, J., Smith, R., & Williams, P. (2024). Enhancing employability through structured internships: A multi-sector analysis. International Journal of Training and Development, 28(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.2024.0010
To, W. M., & Lung, J. W. (2024). Factors influencing internship satisfaction among Chinese students. Education+ Training, 62(5), 543–558. https://doi.org/10.1108/et-2024-0143
Vo, N., Le, L., & Lam, V. (2021). Challenges for student satisfaction of internship program in hospitality and tourism industry in Vietnam. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 23, 1298 – 1324. https://doi.org/10.1080/1528008X.2021.1964414
Wolfgram, M., Vivona, B., & Akram, T. (2021). On the intersectional amplification of barriers to college internships: A comparative case study analysis. Harvard Educational Review. https://wcer.wisc.edu/docs/working-papers/WCER_Working_Paper_No_2020_5.pdf
Xu, S., Lin, Z., He, M., & Wong, I. (2022). The perils of hospitality internship: A growth curve approach to job motivation change. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm-12-2021-1525.
Zhang, W. (2023). Current situation and effective ways of education of higher vocational student party members during internship. Journal of Education and Educational Research. DOI:10.54097/jeer.v4i2.10828
Zehr, S., & Korte, R. (2020). Student internship experiences: Learning about the workplace. Education & Training. https://doi.org/10.1108/et-11-2018-0236
