Thesis (DTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Technikon, 2003. / Many scholars in the social sciences, especially in the Hospitality industry have seen many changes over the years, based on research conducted in the workplace. Skills seem to be a popular research agenda. The literature is rich on how changes have occurred overtime in the hospitality industry workplace. With such a competitive environment this industry is functioning, it is important that entry level employees or current employees in the workplace possess a variety of non-technical skills. Once attained, these employees, will benefit the Hospitality industry, as happy clients / guests, will return, which will create a profitable workplace. It is vitally important that tertiary institutions pay specific attention to students and graduates, that they obtain non-technical skills, via co-operative education programmes, with a focus on the real employment world outside of education. This will equip them to find a job that could be satisfying and rewarding. Industry on the other hand should identify important non-technical skills and conduct on the job training, inducing such skills.
The researcher found that the need for willingness to adapt and eagerness to learn was a consistent theme. The non-technical skills of communication, teamwork, initiative, problem solving and decision making were also highly valued. Respondents were dissatisfied with the quality of entry-level employees beginning their careers, especially graduates who lack non-technical skills. A need was seen for a long-term view of preparation of young people for work, beginning with parents and guardians, who should lay the foundations. Alongside them, educators should be fostering good attitudes and a love for learning, as well as lecturing verbal, numerical and other specific skills.
Successful co-operative education programmes often could involve three key role-players, that of employers (managers / supervisors), students / graduates in this context and the tertiary institution they are studying at Technikon’s providing vocationally orientated co-operative education programmes, therefore need to continually examine what skills employers (managers / supervisors) consider to be important with regard to the skills required by students, entering the workplace. This research study revealed that there is a gap between the skills that students acquire in their formal studies and what employers (managers / supervisors) require. If this need is not recognised, the programmes, institution and students will suffer. The study is aimed at making a contribution towards co-operative education programmes in Hospitality and Tourism at technikons by identifying what non-technical skills the Border Technikon is not addressing. It was found that the skills not being adequately addressed fall in the non-technical skills category. The study identifies the non-technical skills required by employers (managers / supervisors) of Border Technikon Hospitality and Tourism students undertaking experiential learning.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cput/oai:localhost:20.500.11838/2502 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Kruger, Philippus Stephanes |
| Contributors | Bayat, MS |
| Publisher | Cape Technikon |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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