Professional Socialization and Career Development of Chinese International Tourism and Hospitality Students and Graduates: A Revised Framework

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by reflecting critically on Weidman, Twale, and Stein's (2001)’s framework using the findings of a broader study on the professional socialization of Chinese international tourism and hospitality students/graduates from an Australian University. The semi-structured interview study examined diverse university stakeholders’ perceptions of attributes needed by Chinese graduates with Australian university qualifications in tourism and hospitality management entering the Chinese hotel industry. The diverse stakeholders (N=46) include: managers in the Chinese hotel industry; Chinese graduates holding an undergraduate or postgraduate international tourism and hospitality management degree from an Australian university; Chinese international students enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate international tourism and hospitality management degree; and academics teaching international tourism and hospitality management courses.

The findings demonstrated stakeholders’ clear expectations about the outcomes of the work integrated learning component and on-the-job training, including the need for these experiences to bridge theory and practice, and to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for employability.  By applying the professional socialization framework to the findings, the current chapter suggests different processes for enhancing the socialization and career development of Chinese international students and graduates with an Australian tourism and hospitality management degree. The chapter highlights the need to focus on all parties in the triple helix-type relationship, namely the academy, business and government, in order to optimise how work integrated learning and on-the-job training can promote the professional socialization of hospitality/tourism students.