Does Students and Hotel Practitioners Have the Same Expectation Towards to Internship Program? A Case Study in Macau

Abstract

This research aims to understand the internship arrangements in Macau's hospitality industry and investigating how would Macau hospitality students and hotel industry practitioners' their expectation towards to internship program. This study explores the students' and industry practitioners 'view point and overall the comments towards to the internship. A qualitative approach adopted with a sample size of 22 students and 8 hotel practitioners and view their comments of the internship. Semi-structured questions asked from the respondents. Students had conducted an in-depth interview while industry practitioners conducts two focus group for further discussion. By analysing the interview result, the researcher found both parties had different expectation in the internships arrangements. Under the different perspectives in the internship program, some students decided to choose their career plan in hospitality, however, some students found that the political environment and they may not allow to move forward to the career planning in Macau, therefore, they might choose to quit the industry .The discussion and recommendations are made based on the results to provide for students, institutions and hospitality industry practitioners.