TRENDS IN HOSPITALITY HIGHER EDUCATION: ANALYSIS OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN FIRST 15 QS WORLD UNIVERSITIES

Purpose - The changes caused by economic and technological development are present in all sectors of an advanced industrial society. The educational sector as such is not exempt from such changes; on the contrary, changes in the educational sector are becoming necessary. The challenges in transforming the entire educational system affect all segments of the educational process, including curricula, learning materials, teaching practices, and educational stakeholders. The hospitality industry, as a part of the overall economy based on human resources due to its specificity, is different from other industries and as such has a direct impact on the design of the educational model for future hospitality employees. Methodology - This paper aims to identify trends in higher education institutions for the hospitality industry, with a particular focus on analyzing the top 15 QS ranking world universities. The focus of the paper is to identify the challenges faced by higher education institutions specializing in the field of hospitality education and to analyze the educational programs that respond to the challenges and needs of the market. For the analysis of the collected data, the study used a qualitative methodology, employing a summative content analysis. Findings - The analysis of the educational system of established universities in the field of tourism and hospitality provides insight into specific teaching models for the hospitality industry. The results of the research showed that the focus of universities is in the segment of a tailor-made specialization, an internship in high-quality hospitality brands, and subjects that have foundations in hospitality, management, food and beverage, and marketing. Contribution - The research findings of this paper provide insight into the direction of further innovation of degree programs specializing in the hospitality field.