Influences of Prolonged Internships on University Students’ Attitudinal Shifts within the Hospitality and Tourism Sectors
Insights and Implications from Survey Data
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52731/lbds.v004.285Abstract
This research presents an analytical exploration of the effects of extended internships on the vocational interests and self-assurance of university students within the hospitality sector. Em-ploying a questionnaire-based survey methodology, this study captures the perspectives of stu-dents engaged in year-long internships at lodging establishments. The findings reveal a signifi-cant increase in interest towards the accommodation and tourism industries post-internship, with 88.9% of participants reporting enhanced enthusiasm. Remarkably, all respondents indicated an elevated sense of confidence in their professional capabilities. The study further examines the interns’ post-graduation career intentions and their self-reported proficiency in English within a workplace context, with the outcomes underscoring the valuable role that long-duration intern-ships play in the preparatory stages of hospitality industry careers.
References
World Tourism Organization (2024). International tourism to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://www.unwto.org/news/international-tourism-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2024
Japan National Tourism Organization (2024). Press release materials (estimated as of De-cember 2023). Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/ 20240117_monthly.pdf
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. (2023). Trends in the Turnover Rate Within Three Years of Employment for New College Graduates, by Major Industry Classification. [Figure 1].
Tamura, N. (2019). Work consciousness of accommodation industry workers: Characteristics and challenges. Japan Labor Research Journal, 61(7), 60-73.
Fujiyama, M. (2023). Challenges for employment reform in the tourism industry with a view to the post-coronavirus pandemic: Overcoming the labor shortage by improving labor produc-tivity and stabilizing employment is an urgent need. JRI Review, 105(2), 67-95.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (2022). Basic philosophy for promot-ing initiatives related to student career development support including internships (revised June 13, 2022). Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/san-gaku2/20220610-mxt_ope01_01.pdf
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. (2019). Regarding the im-plementation status of internships at universities, etc. in 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/internship/1413929_00002.htm
Recruit Co., Ltd. (2024). Employment White Paper 2024 Press Release. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://shushokumirai.recruit.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ha-kusho_20240220.pdf
Negi, Y., Aoki, A., & Orito, H. (2013). Considerations on the issues of environmental educa-tion in Japan with a focus on internships through a comparative survey of universities with tourism-related faculties in Japan and the United States. Bulletin of the Faculty of Tourism, Tamagawa University, Issue 1, 63-80.
Hirao, M., & Tanaka, K. (2017). Job hunting and internships for university students – Track-ing measurement issues in an era of diversification. University Education, 14, 24-36.
Ishitani, M. (2023). A study on the usefulness of internships in the accommodation business for university students. Proceedings of the 13th International Congress on Advanced Applied Informatics, 1-6.
Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne. (2023). Study at EHL. Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://yourdreamschool.com/study-at-ecole-hoteliere-de-lausanne-ehl/
Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. (2023). Hotel administration degree re-quirements & curriculum. Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://sha.cornell.edu/admis-sions-programs/undergraduate/academics/degree-requirements/
Negi, Y., & Orito, H. (2015). Research on tourism human resource development curriculum and internships comparing Europe, America, and Japan. Journal of the Japan Society for In-ternational Tourism, 22(0), 73-80.
Ishitani (2024). Changes in "confidence" brought about by mid-term internships – Focusing on hotel internship participants. Japan Society of Tourism and Hospitality Education Abstracts, 23, 32-33.
Pusiran, A. K., Janin, Y., Ismail, S., & Dalinting, L. J. (2020). Hospitality internship program insights. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 12(2), 155-164.
