Aligning College Tourism Curriculum with Industry Needs: A Framework for Enhancing Graduate Employability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21511071Keywords:
Curriculum Alignment, Tourism Education, Employability, Industry Skills, Higher EducationAbstract
The growing complexity of the global tourism industry requires higher education institutions to produce graduates equipped with industry-relevant competencies. However, persistent gaps between academic preparation and industry expectations continue to challenge graduate employability. This study investigates the role of curriculum alignment in enhancing the skills of tourism graduates for real-world industry demands. Using a qualitative-descriptive design through secondary data analysis of recent studies (2021–2026), the research identifies critical mismatches in technical, digital, and soft skills. Findings reveal that insufficient experiential learning, weak industry collaboration, and outdated course content contribute to employability gaps. The study emphasizes the importance of competency-based curriculum design, integration of digital skills, and strengthened industry-academe partnerships. It concludes that aligned curricula significantly improve graduate readiness and recommends continuous curriculum review, expanded internship programs, and stakeholder engagement to ensure relevance in a dynamic tourism landscape.
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