LETTERS: The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted an important emerging macrotrend: digitalisation. With digital consumer adoption exceeding its 2025 forecast, this also means that the pandemic has accelerated the digitalisation of education.
From online classes and virtual memorandum of understanding signing ceremonies to online internships and Virtual Tourism, Taylor's School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events has been steering the virtual learning environment to fit the scenario.
The school of Hospitality, Tourism and Events at Taylor's University and academic leaders have come together to discuss the way forward for the industry, as a consideration for what the hospitality and tourism industry and higher education institutions should be doing to support educational transformation:
CURRICULUM. Revisions to course outlines are required to accommodate changing trends. It is then necessary that curriculum allows more flexibility in terms of pathways, free electives, choice of minors and specialisations, or even modular semesters.
For example, the Taylor's Curriculum Framework 2.0 allows a hospitality student to take up modules from relevant disciplines, like marketing or digital media, to understand how they can develop or create a right brand, and market products on social media;
COLLABORATION. The move between academia and the hospitality industry to introduce work-based learning will be key in the future. Apart from allowing students to experience working world and develop competencies, it will also support the hospitality and tourism industry in challenging times.
COMMUNITY. The embedding of technology in the class is becoming necessary and the role of lecturers has evolved. The readiness of lecturers and students should come from the readiness of the institution by investing in technological supports as well as training and development.
For instance, take-home exams, open-book examinations, alignment of the timetable to time zones, asynchronous classes and use of e-Learning tools, such as Padlet, Nearpod, Lino and Socrative.
Globally, we must give credit to lecturers for the support they give to students and the resilience they displayed in managing online learning;
CAREER. The hospitality, tourism and events industries will not be same without the human touch and human interaction.
Therefore, some argue that online pedagogies applied might weaken students' capabilities in terms of professional attributes, but we can question this. The role of education providers is to develop employable capabilities for future jobs, jobs that currently do not exist.
A great way of developing critical and creative thinking, problem solving, adaptability, entrepreneurialism, communication, or emotional intelligence is via industry-oriented curriculum.
Some students who pursued internships on projects like digital SOP for the hotel industry, market analysis and feasibility study for entrepreneurs came back filled with enthusiasm and new ideas; and,
CLASSROOM. With the digitalisation of the content delivery and usage of technology, we can share more about the best practices applied in the industry but also taught in different parts of the world. The global classroom or borderless classroom concept has been practised widely.
Educators must look to creativity and innovation in strengthening their virtual learning environments (VLEs) with interactive platforms, pop-quizzes and space for student opinions.
At Taylor's University, we expanded our VLE to include demonstration videos, simulations, situational activities and case-based scenarios to keep the virtual classroom fresh and interactive.
Hospitality education has undergone a forced but necessary adaptation but, ultimately, we believe it is for the benefit of the industry, educational institutions and students.
Dr Joaquim Dias Soeiro
Head of School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor's University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times