Fostering Work-integrated Learning in Hospitality and Tourism: An Integration of Leximancer and Students’ Self-reflective Statement Approaches

ABSTRACT

Several studies have discussed work-integrated learning in hospitality and tourism education. Unfortunately, few have taken metacognition theory to explore students’ self-reflective learning in this regard. In this study, 144 self-reflective learning statements were collected from undergraduate students in Hong Kong. Results showed the major themes of work-integrated learning revolving around the work details, guests and services, the companies, and diversity of the industry. Learning was also found different across industry sectors. A conceptual framework of work-integrated learning and students’ metacognition was developed. Students’ metacognition focused on such aspects as skill improvement, personal change and development, self-awareness, cross-cultural horizon, and application of class knowledge, thereby leading to their career prospects and recommendations given to the industry or company.

摘要

一些研究曾讨论款待和旅游业教育中的工学结合, 然而, 当中甚少有采用元认知理论来探讨学生的自我反思学习。本研究收集了 144 份来自香港本科生的自我反思学习报告。结果显示工学结合主要围绕工作细节, 客人和服务, 公司和行业多样性。本文发现不同行业的学习模式有所不同。文中建立了工学结合和学生元认知的概念框架。学生的元认知侧重于技能提升, 个人改变和成长, 自我意识, 跨文化视野和课堂知识运用, 从而引导他们的职业前景, 及对行业或公司的建议

KEYWORDS:

• Work-integrated learning
• metacognition
• Leximancer
• self-reflective statement
• hospitality and tourism

关键词:

• 工学结合
• 元认知
• Leximancer
• 自我反思陈述
• 款待和旅游

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the College of Professional and Continuing Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Notes on contributors

Jing (Bill) Xu

Jing (Bill) Xu, PhD, is Senior Lecturer at College of Professional and Continuing Education, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research interests focus on hospitality and tourism management, consumer behavior, destination management, etc. He has published in Tourism Management, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Journal of Vacation Marketing, etc (E-mail: [email protected]).

Kam-Ho Manson Chung

Kam-Ho Manson Chung, DBA, is Lecturer at Department of Hospitality Management, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi). His research interests focus on food and beverage management, foodservice quality control, sustainable catering, etc. He has published in Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, etc (E-mail: [email protected]).

Xinyan Zhang

Xinyan Zhang, PhD, is Lecturer at College of Professional and Continuing Education, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her research interests focus on information and communication systems, tourism management, tourism supply chain management, tourism demand forecasting, etc. She has published in Tourism Management, International Journal of Tourism Research, Journal of China Tourism Research, etc (E-mail: [email protected]).

Pimtong Tavitiyaman

Pimtong Tavitiyaman, PhD, is Principal Lecturer at College of Professional and Continuing Education, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her research interests include hotel management, destination image, smart tourism, etc. She has published in Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Tourism Management, International Journal of Hospitality Management, etc (E-mail: [email protected]).