Noor Azimin Zainol

Investigating hospitality graduates knowledge, skills and abilities using Delphi technique

A specific gap identified from literature on graduates knowledge, skills and abilities showed that none has studied in the context of industry perspectives using Delphi technique.This study used Delphi technique and distributed three rounds survey questionnaires among 16 representatives of four and five star lodging in Peninsular Malaysia. The Delphi analysis ended up with 69 items represent hospitality graduates knowledge, skills and abilities in the context of Malaysian hospitality program.The items were categorized into four domains namely Workplace, Academic, Management and Personal Effectiveness.The study highly contributes to the implementation of Delphi technique as effective tool in determining the graduates knowledge, skills and abilities. Further, it also assists the academic institutions specifically in Malaysia by strengthening the foundation of hospitality curriculum taking into account the four identified domains.

Developing index competency for the Malaysian tourism and hospitality graduates

Various models have been developed for the purpose of identifying graduates competencies. However, such specific model has not been found in the context of Malaysian tourism and hospitality education.This study develops an index competency for the Malaysian tourism and hospitality graduates through the perspectives of the industry.The process of developing the index consisted of three major stages—items generation, items verification and items development.The developed index contributes to the planning and designing the tourism and hospitality program more effectively by taking into consideration the competencies required by the industry. Hence it also assists the graduates to survive within the industry as they possess what the industry wants.