The moderating effects of internship programme on the relationship between motivational factors and students' career decisions in the hotel industry in Ningxia, China.

• Main Author: Hui, Zhang Hui
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: HF5549-5549.5 Personnel Management. Employment
• Online Access: https://etd.uum.edu.my/9227/1/s900568_01.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9227/2/s900568_02.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9227/3/s900568_references.docx; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9227/

The unprecedented development of China tourism industry has generated employment opportunities particularly in the hotel industry. This development may also inspire hospitality and tourism management (HTM) students to pursue career in this industry. Nevertheless, attracting and retaining talented HTM graduates in this industry is a challenging task because a great proportion of them were indecisive in their hotel industry career decision. It is anticipated that students' career decisions are influenced by three motivational factors: intrinsic, extrinsic and parental factors. Hence this study aims to provide empirical evidence pertaining the influence of these motivational factors on HTM students' career decisions as well as the moderating effect of internship programme on this relationship. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the research problems. Results from the quantitative analyses show that the three motivational factors have a positive and significant influence on students' career decisions. The findings also indicate that internship programme exerts a strong influence on students ' career decision to join the hotel industry as well as moderating the relationship between the three motivational factors and their career decisions. Additionally, results from interviews with the three groups; hotel executives, HTM educators and graduates are beneficial in terms of enhancing and supporting the quantitative findings. The findings of this study would both contribute to the literature and the industry. Theoretically, this study enriches the literature by offering a detailed explanation regarding the influence of intrinsic, extrinsic and parental motivational factors on students' career decision. Hence reducing the research gap by clarifying the relationship between motivational factors and students' career decisions, with the internship programme as moderating variable. Practically, the results benefit both educators and the industry. It provides clearer views about the internship issues and may guide the career counselling teachers in the industrial training curriculum development. As for the hotel industry, this study would help the human resource executives in their training structure formulation. Eventually, efforts from both academia and industry shall enhance the understanding and confidence of the students as well as the parents and subsequently can attract and retain high-quality HTM graduates in the hotel industry.