The Role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Restoring Hospitality Sector Specific Skills in Zimbabwe: A Students’ Perspective

ABSTRACT

This study was done to determine the role played by Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in restoring sector-specific skills lost to other countries in the Zimbabwean hospitality industry. Semi-structured questionnaires were self-administered to 136 students studying hospitality related qualifications in Polytechnics in Zimbabwe using a convenient sampling technique. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used to analyze data generating frequencies and descriptive statistics. The findings of the research show that the hospitality industry will continue to lose skills to other countries mainly because of low salaries, better working conditions in other countries, the unfavorable economic environment in Zimbabwe and the need by students to gain international exposure. TVET institutions in Zimbabwe have a great role to play in replacing lost skills therefore financial challenges, equipment unavailability and lack of qualified lecturers need to be addressed for them to be effective.

KEYWORDS:

• Hospitality education
• labor mobility
• section specific skills
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
• tourism and hospitality industry

Acknowledgments

The researcher wishes to acknowledge the work of the following individuals who assisted in data collection; Abednigo Chauke, Memory Muchena, Rudo Zengeya-Nyandima, Nomfundo Manzini, Lovemore Chitambara and Chipo Mapanda who assisted with data entry. The author is also grateful to the Coeditor Dr Miyoung Jeong and the reviewers for their insightful suggestions.