Investigating professional development for tourism and hospitality educators

Abstract

This paper addresses the practice of professional development (PD) within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) arena. The major focus of the paper is to propose specific recommendations for the improvement of PD practices for VET educators in the tourism and hospitality sector. The study was conducted utilising the qualitative research technique of narrative inquiry. The investigation focused on a case study context of educators currently working within a department of tourism and hospitality at a VET registered training organisation. Interviews were conducted with 10 front-line teaching educators and 4 management Heads of Department. Results of the study indicated that educators and management are required to consider specific issues when designing PD. A set of recommendations arising from the research findings have been developed that focus on enhancing the PD for tourism and hospitality educators particularly in the following areas: Increased relevance of the PD to the educators' work; Development of a culture that supports lifelong learning; More transparent PD funding and budgetary arrangements; Access to PD for ongoing and sessional staff; Increased emphasis on professional learning arising from PD.