E-Learning Engagement in Hospitality and Tourism Education

E-learning engagement in hospitality and tourism education has emerged as a pivotal concern for institutions seeking to prepare graduates for an industry defined by rapid change and high customer expectations. Digital platforms offer unprecedented opportunities to simulate real-world scenarios, from virtual hotel management simulations to interactive culinary demonstrations. Effective engagement hinges on the integration of multimedia resources, synchronous and asynchronous communication tools, and experiential learning methods that mirror industry practice. Key determinants include user-friendly technology, pedagogical design that promotes active participation, and robust support structures that foster social presence and learner motivation. Practical applications range from virtual field trips that allow exploration of global destinations to collaborative projects with industry partners via videoconferencing. Challenges persist, notably the digital divide, variations in instructor readiness, and the maintenance of peer interaction in remote settings. Strategies to enhance engagement emphasise scaffolded learning pathways, real-time feedback, team-based problem solving and the alignment of content with professional identity development. The global significance of this research lies in its potential to democratise access to specialised training, cultivate adaptable professionals and sustain industry resilience in an increasingly digital world.

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E-Learning Engagement in Hospitality and Tourism Education publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in e-learning engagement in hospitality and tourism education across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

E-learning: The use of electronic media and information technologies to deliver education and training remotely.

Learning engagement: The degree of attention, interest and active participation a learner exhibits in the educational process.

Professional identity: The evolving self-concept and emotional attachment that students develop towards their chosen profession.

Academic self-efficacy: A learner’s belief in their own capability to organise and execute tasks required for academic success.

Learning by doing: An experiential pedagogy in which learners acquire knowledge through direct, practical application of concepts.

Team coaching: A facilitation approach that enhances group performance through guided reflection, feedback and skill development.

References

1. Understanding the Impacts of Chinese Undergraduate Tourism Students’ Professional Identity on Learning Engagement. Sustainability (2021).
2. Investigating Structural Relationships between Professional Identity, Learning Engagement, Academic Self-Efficacy, and University Support: Evidence from Tourism Students in China. Behavioral Sciences (2023).
3. Enhancing Learning in Tourism Education by Combining Learning by Doing and Team Coaching. Education Sciences (2022).
4. Advantages and disadvantages of distance learning. E-methodology (2021).