"The international hotel school's diploma in hospitality management programme : enhancing student employability?".
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Date
2011
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Abstract
The International Hotel School is registered with the South African Department of
Higher Education and Training as a Private Higher Education Institution. This
registration entails accreditation by the Council on Higher Education and one of
the requirements for accreditation is that "The programme has taken steps to
enhance the employability of students and to alleviate shortages of expertise in
relevant fields, in cases where these are the desired outcomes of the programme."
The purpose of this study was to assess, from a graduate perspective, whether or
not the Diploma in Hospitality Management programme offered by the school met
the requirement of the Council on Higher Education.
Skills sought by employers were identified through a review of literature on the
topic of 'employability'. These skills were used to compile a research questionnaire
sent electronically to the identified sample group. A study was conducted among
students who had completed the diploma programme during the years 2008 to
2010. Using a five-point Likert Scale respondents were asked to rate their
perception of skills developed through their participation in the diploma
programme. In addition to assessing the employability skills, respondents were
asked to rate the usefulness to them in their employment of the subjects
comprising the diploma programme. Here a four point Rating Scale was used in
the questionnaire.
Results of the study have identified areas of weakness within the programme's
design and recommendations will be made to the school Academic Board as to
suggested actions to be taken in addressing these weaknesses. The programme's
syllabi should be reviewed and the curricula content adapted to consider the areas
of concern highlighted through this study.
The study identified that the programme goes some way to meeting the
requirements of both the Department of Higher education and Training and
employers within the hospitality industry.
Description
Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.
Keywords
Hospitality industry--Management., College graduates--Employment., Hospitality industry--Study and teaching (Higher), Theses--Business administration.