Transformations in Campus Placement Drives in Hospitality Institutions Across Madhya Pradesh : Post-COVID
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/pjhas.2025.11.1.5Keywords:
Post-COVID, campus placement, hospitality education, graduatesAbstract
Background: Hospitality education plays a vital role in shaping students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes, transforming them into industry-ready professionals and enhancing their employability upon graduation. Campus placement drives are highly anticipated process for final-year hospitality students, as they provide opportunities to secure jobs immediately after completing their studies. However, the Covid-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the hospitality job market, leading to significant disruptions in placement opportunities. In the post-pandemic period, several studies have explored hospitality job prospects and the expectations of graduating students. Objectives: This study addresses an unexplored gap by focusing on three key objectives. First to examine the impact of the pandemic on placement opportunities for graduating batches from 2020 to 2023. Second to identify the essential attributes that prepare hospitality students for successful campus placements. Third to assess student satisfaction with placement drives and gathering recommendations for future improvements. Methodology: A descriptive research design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire completed by hospitality graduates from colleges across Madhya Pradesh between 2020 and 2023. A total of two hundred fifteen filled up questionnaires were received back of which two hundred and nine were usable. The data was analyzed using frequency and percentage represented in a tabular manner. Results: The findings reveal that most respondents perceived the pandemic as having a negative effect on job opportunities. As (73.68%) of the respondents felt that placement opportunities decreased. Additionally, the study highlights key attributes essential for successful placements, such as theoretical knowledge, strong communication and interpersonal skills. The dissatisfaction regarding the campus placement is on the decline from (54.84%) among 2020 graduates to (17.65%) among 2023 graduating batch. Conclusion: To enhance future campus placements, the study recommends initiatives such as career fairs, placement lectures, seminars and workshops at the institute level. Moreover, it emphasizes the need to expand the role of placement coordinators beyond organizing interviews to actively supporting students’ career development.References
Birtch, T. A., Chiang, F. F., Cai, Z., & Wang, J. (2021). Am I choosing the right career? The implications of COVID-19 on the occupational attitudes of hospitality management students. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 95, 102931.
Chand, P. K., Kumar, A. S., & Mittal, A. (2019). Emotional intelligence and its relationship to employability skills and employer satisfaction with fresh engineering graduates. International Journal for Quality Research, 13(3), 735.
Clausen, H. B. & Phi, G. T. (2020). Fostering innovation competencies in tourism higher education via design based and value-based learning. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 29, 100298.
Cos, J. C. V. A., Celemin, L. A. E. L., Comia, C. D., Gempes, B. G. B., Maquiling, A. T., Sandro, C. G. T., & Meňez, F. L. (2018). Career readiness among international hospitality management graduates. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research, 15(1), 28-39.
Gamlath, J. R. (2022). A study on student’s perception towards campus placements post Covid–19 in Anand city, Gujarat. International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, 9(8), 230-237.
Hao, F., Xiao, Q., & Chon, K. (2020). Covid-19 and China’s hotel industry: Impacts, a disaster management framework and post-pandemic agenda. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 90, 102636.
Hewitt, K., & Sao Joao, E. (2022). The gap between expectations of hospitality graduates and hotel managers after the pandemic. Studia Periegetica, 4(40), 149-168.
Jackson, D. & Wilton, N. (2017). Perceived employability among undergraduates and the importance of career self-management, work experience and individual characteristics. Higher Education Research and Development, 36(4), 747-762.
Ka Leong, C., Ching Yung, S. F., Ching Hua, A. Y., & Seow Chyi, L. (2024). Post-pandemic education: hospitality program revisit. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 24(2), 134-166.
Kaushal, V., & Srivastava, S. (2021). Hospitality and tourism industry amid COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives on challenges and learnings from India. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 92, 102707.
Lee, M. J., Lee, P., & De Villa-Lopez, B. (2019). Hospitality and tourism career fairs: how important are they and how well do they work?. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 19(4), 326-340.
Lee, P. C., Yoon, S., & Lee, M. J. (2021). Are you ready? Perceived Career Readiness Attributes of the Hospitality Management students. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 33(3), 147-22.
Mair, J., Ritchie, B. W., & Walters, G. (2016). Towards a research agenda for post-disaster and post-crisis recovery strategies for tourist destinations: a narrative review. Current Issues in Tourism, 19(1), 1-26.
Ongartsuebsakul, P., Lham, K., Chotisupha, M., Kento Kasai, P., & Panpat, P. (2024). Exploring the Implementation of Work Integrated Learning Models on the Effectiveness of Student Professionalism in Hospitality Education: A Case Study of Dusit Thani College. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences for Sustainable Development, 7(2),
91–104. Retrieved from https://ssrujournal.com/index. php/hsssru/article/view/510
Pandey, M. & Juneja, M. (2021). Hospitality students outlook towards online learning in India. Tourism Innovations: An International Journal of Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress, 11(2), 39-43.
Park, M., & Jones, T. (2021). Going Virtual: The Impact of COVID-19 on Internships in Tourism, Events and Hospitality Education. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 33(3), 176–193. https://doi.org/10.1080/109
63758.2021.1907198
Sao Joao, E. A. (2021). COVID-19 and Hospitality Operations: What happened and what’s next? African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 10(1), 318- 332.
Shah, C., Chowdhury, A., & Gupta, V. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on tourism and hospitality students’ perceptions of career opportunities and future prospects in India. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 21(4), 359-379.
Zenker, S. & Kock, F. (2020). The coronavirus pandemic – A critical discussion of a tourism research agenda. Tourism Management, 81, 104164.
Zhong, Y., Busser, J., Shapoval, V., & Murphy, K. (2021). Hospitality and tourism student engagement and hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of hospitality & tourism education, 33(3), 194-206.
