Learning experiences of hospitality & tourism students in three different modes of curriculum delivery

Abstract

Hospitality and tourism management (HTM) programmes are unique in that they usually emphasize the development of students’ industry and generic skills through means of practical and experiential learning elements. This research attempted to explore the learning experience of students in an HTM programme by comparing three different modes of curriculum delivery: 1) traditional lectures; 2) practical workshops; and 3) internship which are generally provided by local institutions. Students’ learning experiences were assessed through the examination of three indicators: 1) students’ perceptions of their learning environment (PLE); 2) learning approaches applied (LA); and 3) their perceived learning outcomes (PLO). The results showed that the existing instruments being adopted can be positively applied for assessing students’ learning in an HTM programme. Variations in students’ learning experiences were found in different modes of curriculum delivery. A significant relationship among PLE, LA and PLO was also observed which generally followed the Trigwell and Prosser’s 3P Model. The author, based on these findings, has suggested various ways to enhance the learning experience of students in HTM programmes and areas for further improvement if follow-up researches are conducted in the future.