INTERNSHIP IN INDIAN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION: A CASE OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY UNDERGRADUATES

Kumar  Ashutosh; Nikhil  Charak; Ketan  Bhatt; Sunil Kumar  Kabia; Amit  Gangotia; Krishma  Rana

doi:10.5281/zenodo.14112037

Authors

Kumar Ashutosh University of Delhi
Nikhil Charak Ambedkar University
Ketan Bhatt Central University of Jammu
Sunil Kumar Kabia Bundelkhand University
Amit Gangotia Central University of Jammu
Krishma Rana Central University of Jammu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14112037

Keywords:

Tourism, Hospitality, Skills and Competencies, Vocational Education, Internship

Abstract

The latest National education policy of India (NEP-2020) underlined the significance of internship opportunities for students pursuing vocational degree programmes to make them job ready for the industry. Internship have always been the most effectual tool for empirical learning, as it allows students to experience hands-on learning as well as the practical aspects of the theory courses. Current research examines the role and importance of internship in tourism and hospitality education. Pondering on the significance of internships in developing skill competencies amongst the students, the findings of current study can be effective in identifying the overall perception of hospitality students in judging their skill competencies during the pre-internship and post-internship period. This research attempts to find out the gap between the pre and post on-the-job training (OJT) experience of tourism and hospitality undergraduates in terms of competencies required to set foot in the industry. The paper is empirical in nature and employs both primary and secondary data which was analysed using mean scores and t-test. The major implication of the study is to assess the significance of the internship in developing industry-relevant competencies among students.

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Author Biographies

Kumar Ashutosh, University of Delhi

Associate Prof., DCEE, University of Delhi specialises in tourism trends, economics of tourism, and tourism marketing.

Nikhil Charak, Ambedkar University

Asst.Prof., Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, New Delhi specialises in tourism education, Hospitality Management, and wellness tourism

Ketan Bhatt, Central University of Jammu

Faculty member, SBS, Central University of Jammu has interest in tourism education, tourism sustainability and inclusive growth.

Sunil Kumar Kabia, Bundelkhand University

Bundelkhand University, Jhansi specializes in tourism planning, sustainable tourism, Air cargo and tour packaging.

Amit Gangotia, Central University of Jammu

Sr. Assistant Professor, DTTM, Central University of Jammu specialises in CBT, tourism education, smart tourism, and experiential tourism

Krishma Rana, Central University of Jammu

Ph.D. Scholar, DTTM, Central University of Jammu specialises in Wellness Tourism, Tourism Education, and Tourism Management.

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