The implications of contemporary cultural diversity for the hospitality curriculum

Abstract

Purpose

This viewpoint paper aims to assess a curriculum response within a specific vocational sector, hospitality, driven by the recent surge in intra EU labour migration and the ensuing increase in workplace cultural diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies an appropriate curriculum response by assessing the industry implications and proffering a conceptual model of curriculum response.

Findings

The experience across business sectors, such as hospitality, emphasises the need for training that is geared to meet the needs of both international and indigenous employees and that, critically, intercultural issues represent a significant training gap. It is posited that the curriculum response is multifaceted embracing the need to address course content, learning outcomes, assessment methods and the training needs of educators.

Originality/value

The paper is targeted at academics within applied business education, specifically in those areas of the services sector that have experienced significant labour migration in recent years. It is also of wider value to those involved in curricula design in a vocational context.

Citation

Hearns, N., Devine, F. and Baum, T. (2007), "The implications of contemporary cultural diversity for the hospitality curriculum", Education + Training, Vol. 49 No. 5, pp. 350-363. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400910710762922