A Gap Analysis of the Essential Competencies Expected and Perceived from Hospitality Graduates in the Industry: The Case of Egypt

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine, identify the essential competencies expected and perceived from hospitality graduates in the industry. A gap means analysis technique used to analyze hospitality managers’ expectations and perceptions about Employment of Graduates in the hospitality industry. Industry management conceded that hospitality education modules need to reflect recent and future industry challenges and improvements to guarantee graduates are outfitted with suitable and industry-relevant competencies. Required data are collected with a self-administered questionnaire adapted from competency model of Chung-Herrera, Enz, and Lankau (2003). The questionnaire was distributed randomly among 280 managers of chain hotels in Egypt after permission from the directors of Human Recourses. Gathered data were examined using descriptive statistics and factor analysis method. The results of this study reveal that hospitality managers’ expectation is less than their perception from Employment of fresh Graduates in the hospitality industry. Furthermore, factor analysis generates five groups of competencies required by hospitality industry namely; (Transferable Competencies, Professional Competencies, Generic Competencies, Analytical skills, and Conceptual skill). The results are very important for both of hospitality education and industry as it can help to determine and prioritize the needed competencies in the field of hospitality industry. It is therefore urgent that hospitality, educational institutions need to meet the requirements of the industry in their demand for competencies needed from the graduated.