Developing career intention of Gen Z hospitality students: The roles and matters of experiential learning, problem-solving skills, positive thinking skills and adaptability skills

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the factors influencing career intentions among Gen Z students in the hospitality industry, focusing on the roles of Experiential Learning, Problem-Solving Skills, Positive Thinking Skills, and Adaptability Skills. The target population consists of 409 Thai hospitality students who have undergone internship experiences and belong to the Gen Z cohort. A convenience sampling method was employed to collect data using a structured questionnaire that was validated for content validity and reliability. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed that experiential learning had a direct positive effect on problem-solving skills, positive thinking skills, and adaptability skills. Furthermore, these three skills significantly influenced career intentions, with positive thinking skills and adaptability skills serving as key mediating variables in the relationship between experiential learning and career intentions. These insights offer valuable implications for curriculum development and the design of learning activities that enhance integrated competencies among hospitality students, as well as for formulating strategies to develop future-ready human capital aligned with the dynamic and complex nature of the hospitality industry.