An investigation of the professional development practices of vocational education and training educators in the tourism and hospitality sector

This study investigated the practice of professional development (PD) within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) arena. The major focus of this study was to investigate how PD provision for a selected group of VET educators in the tourism and hospitality sector has equipped them with both the technical competence of their discipline and teacher/training competence. This research has direct practical relevance to the educators working in the VET tourism and hospitality sector. Identifying PD strategies that are consistent and effective could facilitate the development of PD at a national level thus providing benefit to the VET sector as a whole. The study was conducted utilising the qualitative research technique 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. Interviews were transcribed and portrait narratives were developed from the interview data. The portraits were analysed to answer the study’s five objectives: • To gain the perceptions held by a selected group of VET educators in the tourism and hospitality sector of the technical competence needed to conduct effective teaching/training programs • To gain the perceptions held by a selected group of VET educators in the tourism and hospitality sector of the professional teaching/training competencies required for effective practice • To construct a detailed taxonomy of teaching/training competencies in VET tourism and hospitality sector • To determine the appropriate qualification for VET educators in the tourism and hospitality sector • To propose specific recommendations for the improvement of PD practices for VET educators in the tourism and hospitality sector. 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