Excellence in Tourism Education and Capacity-Building for Employability: The Case of Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Fayoum University, Egypt

Abstract

Generally, there have been constant complains about a supposed mismatch between graduate competence and competence required by potential employers. The background of this mismatch - or discrepancy problem is complex. This problem tends to be a general one, regardless of geography or subject matter area. The background to the problem seems to be related to the qualifying and stratifying functions of higher education, to the development of the tasks of higher education over time. Any country competing in the international tourism market requires a well-developed tourism training and education strategy. The aim of such training strategy should provide an efficient and well-skilled workforce for the tourism industry. Global tourism indicators demonstrate, rising skills demand among employers and a recognized need for skills development among job seekers across all skill levels and career pathways. The story of successful tourism enterprises is one that is largely about people - how they are recruited, how they are managed, how they are trained and educated, how they are valued and rewarded, and how they are supported through a process of continuous learning and career development. None of this happens by accident. Recently, August 2016, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels at Fayoum University has been accredited by the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE). Being the first accredited faculty of tourism education in Egypt, it is chosen as the key case for the topic of the current study. The research depends on the descriptive approach and the convenient sample. The internal assessment based on the critical view of the researcher and the faculty staffs points of view is conducted. Primary data is analyzed by SPSS program. The general finding is the leadership of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels at Fayoum University is evident in practical and training areas such as languages and global distribution systems.

Keywords: Tourism Education, Capacity-Building, Employability, Education Partnerships, Skills Competencies

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