An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Competency Based Education and Training in the Hospitality and Tourism Discipline at Bulawayo Polytechnic

Abstract

Competency based training and assessment can be a successful training strategy of upgrading the human capital as a prerequisite for world class competitiveness, organisational excellence and labour productivity. This paper seeks to assess the effectiveness of competency based education and training in the hospitality and tourism discipline at Bulawayo Polytechnic. There has been a cry from the hospitality industry that colleges are churning out half-baked graduates. Colleges are passing on to the labour market workers who are not competent in their respective skills. The main objective is to find causes of student failure to acquire appropriate skills that meets the needs and demands of the hospitality industry. Competency based assessment and training, is training that is designed to allow a learner to demonstrate their ability to do something in a work place situation. Competency based training in vocational education places more focus on what a student can do in the work place after completing a program of study. Competency based education should move from what academics believe students need to know to what students need to do in varying and complex work situations. The knowledge and skills may have been learnt through study, self-tuition, work place or life experience. Hence, a competent professional has the attributes necessary for job performance to the appropriate standards. This paper seeks to identify the gap between training and work place expectations of the hospitality and tourism industry. Descriptive survey method was used and purposive random sampling was done from the lecturers and students and their respective attachment supervisors from industry and manpower training officers. The researchers used questionnaires, interviews and observations in data collection for triangulation purposes. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis to give data meaning. It was noted that the majority of students do not have hands on competences. They lack vital skills in performance of their duties due to a high lecturer student ratio and constrained learning resources. To first year students if asked why they have chosen the hospitality and tourism industry, they are quick to say that they like and or enjoy travelling. This reversal of roles between them and their guest is quite alarming. There is lack of career guidance at high schools leading to students not understanding what is happening in the hospitality industry. There is a gap between training and industry needs. Students should have prior exposure to the hospitality and tourism industry before they are enrolled. Although this might have an impact on student numbers, it is recommended that students should familiarize with the industry before they are enrolled. This will lead to students to have full knowledge and passion of the industry they are joining. Training equipment must be upgraded for example reservation software. It is also recommended that classes must be manageable. Lecturers should be given industry exposure. That is, the lecturers themselves must be attached to hotels so that they are in sync with the changing trends in the industry.