Undergraduate students future career intention in the hotel industry: The impact of implementing the certified internship program

Feri Ferdian; Asmar Yulastri; Mohd Salehuddin Mohd Zahari; Hijriyantomi Suyuthie; Pasaribu Pasaribu

doi:10.24036/jptk.v8i1.41223

Authors

Feri Ferdian Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia
Asmar Yulastri Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia
Mohd Salehuddin Mohd Zahari Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, UCSI University, Malaysia
Hijriyantomi Suyuthie Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia
Pasaribu Pasaribu Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24036/jptk.v8i1.41223

Keywords:

hospitality management, certified internship program, internship service quality, internship experience

Abstract

This scholarly investigation examines the effect of hotel hallmarks of the hotel industry, service quality of internship and internship satisfaction on undergraduate hotel management students' future career intentions in the hotel industry. A quantitative approach through a cross-sectional study with a self-reported survey questionnaire was undertaken. The sample and the unit of analysis is among hotel management students from Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia who had undergone internships program. The study employs Partial-least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in response to the hypotheses. The results clearly demonstrated that hallmarks of the hotel industry (less pleasant work environments, heavy job responsibilities, slow career development opportunities, and less recognition of work achievement) did not possess negative impact on hospitality interns’ students future career intentions in the hotel industry. Hotel internship service quality and internship satisfaction strongly influence hospitality interns’ students future career intentions in the hotel industry. The findings manifestly provide valuable insights and far-reaching consequences for students, hospitality institutions, industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ansari, A. N. (2025). Enhancing Real-World Skills Through Internships: A Qualitative Exploration. In Innovative Educational Frameworks for Future Skills and Competencies (pp. 211–236). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://www.igi-global.com/gateway/chapter/367103

Ariza-Montes, A., Hernández-Perlines, F., Han, H., & Law, R. (2019). Human dimension of the hospitality industry: Working conditions and psychological well-being among European servers. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 41, 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2019.10.013

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=id&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Bandura+%281997%29+&btnG=

Barron, P. (2008). Education and talent management: implications for the hospitality industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 20(7), 730–742. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110810897583

Barron, P., Maxwell, G., Broadbridge, A., & Ogden, S. (2007). Careers in Hospitality Management: Generation Y’s Experiences and Perceptions. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 14(2), 119–128. https://doi.org/10.1375/jhtm.14.2.119

Buhalis, D., Efthymiou, L., Uzunboylu, N., & Thrassou, A. (2024). Charting the progress of technology adoption in tourism and hospitality in the era of industry 4.0. EuroMed Journal of Business, 19(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-11-2023-0310

Carlisle, S., Ivanov, S., & Dijkmans, C. (2023). The digital skills divide: evidence from the European tourism industry. Journal of Tourism Futures, 9(2), 240–266. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-07-2020-0114

Chen, C., & Wen, P. (2016). The effect of mentoring on protégés’ organizational deviance. Psychological Reports, 119(1), 200–220. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294116659456

Chen, T., Shen, C., & Gosling, M. (2021). To stay or not to stay? The causal effect of interns’ career intention on enhanced employability and retention in the hospitality and tourism industry. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 28, 100305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2021.100305

Chiang, C.-F., Back, K.-J., & Canter, D. D. (2005). The impact of employee training on job satisfaction and intention to stay in the hotel industry. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 4(2), 99–118. https://doi.org/10.1300/J171v04n02_06

Chin, W. W. (1998). The Partial Least Squares Approach to Structural Equation Modeling. In Modern methods for business research (Vol. 2, pp. 295–336). http://www.researchgate.net/publication/232569511

Cho, E., Smith, K. R., & Hubert, S. K. (2021). Delivering Experiential Learning Through Virtual Study Tour and Alternative Internship Options During a Pandemic. Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences, 113(2), 14–20. https://doi.org/10.14307/JFCS113.2.14

Ferdian, F. (2021). The millennial hospitality graduates commitment toward hotel industry career: diagnosing causes of the causations. Universiti Teknologi MARA. https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/60743/

Ferdian, F., Zahari, M. S. M., Abd Fatah, M. O. R., Mat Issa, Z., & Hanafiah, M. H. (2024). Investigating the effectiveness of conventional hospitality education curriculum in shaping Millennials’ career commitment: an empirical inquiry. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 24(1), 33–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220.2023.2273496

Ferdian, F., Zahari, M. S. M., Hanafiah, M. H., & Patah, M. O. R. A. (2024). Hotel Workplace Environment, Millennial Culture and Graduates Career Commitment: An Empirical Investigation. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 25(2), 294–312. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220.2023.2273496

Ghani, B., Zada, M., Memon, K. R., Ullah, R., Khattak, A., Han, H., Ariza-Montes, A., & Araya-Castillo, L. (2022). Challenges and strategies for employee retention in the hospitality industry: A review. Sustainability, 14(5), 2885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052885

Ghosh, P., & Jhamb, D. (2021). How is the influence of hotel internship service quality a measurable factor in student interns’ behavioral intentions? Mediating Role of Interns’ Satisfaction. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 21(3), 290–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220.2021.1912688

Ghosh, P., Jhamb, D., & Yu, L. (2022). Faculty behavioral intentions in hospitality education: effect of service quality, service value, sacrifice, and satisfaction. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2022.2034121

Hair Jr, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2021). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage publications.

Hair Jr, J. F., Matthews, L. M., Matthews, R. L., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). PLS-SEM or CB-SEM: updated guidelines on which method to use. International Journal of Multivariate Data Analysis, 1(2), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMDA.2017.087624

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8

Hora, M. T., Chen, Z., Wolfgram, M., Zhang, J., & Fischer, J. J. (2024). Designing effective internships: A mixed-methods exploration of the sociocultural aspects of intern satisfaction and development. The Journal of Higher Education, 95(5), 579–606. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2023.2241330

Jones, J., & Smith, H. A. (2022). A comparative study of formal coaching and mentoring programmes in higher education. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 11(2), 213–231. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-03-2021-0054

Kim, B. P., McCleary, K. W., & Kaufman, T. (2010). The New Generation in the Industry: Hospitality/Tourism Students’ Career Preferences, Sources of Influence and Career Choice Factors. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 22(3), 5–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2010.10696979

Kim, H., & Park, E. J. (2013). The role of social experience in undergraduates’ career perceptions through internships. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 12(1), 70–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2012.11.003

Kukreti, R., & Dani, R. (2021). Determining the role of working environment, contextual factors and task characteristics in internship satisfaction of hospitality undergraduates. Materials Today: Proceedings, 46, 11226–11229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.02.514

Kusluvan, S., & Kusluvan, Z. (2000). Perceptions and attitudes of undergraduate tourism students towards working in the tourism industry in Turkey. Tourism Management, 21(3), 251–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(99)00057-6

Lam, T., & Ching, L. (2007). An exploratory study of an internship program: The case of Hong Kong students. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 26(2), 336–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2006.01.001

Lee, P. C., Lee, M. J., & Dopson, L. R. (2019). Who influences college students’ career choices? An empirical study of hospitality management students. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 31(2), 74–86. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2018.1485497

Liu, Y., Draper, J., & Dawson, M. (2022). The relationship between work experience and career expectations: career decision-making self-efficacy as mediator. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2022.2034118

Mandal, S., Raju, S. S., & Yadav, N. (2025). Sustainability Through Technology: How Innovations Are Driving Eco-Friendly Hospitality Practices. In Marketing Technology-Infused Hospitality: Upskilling Frontline Employees for Competitiveness (pp. 309–336). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-7127-5.ch012

Mannaa, M. T., & Abou-Shouk, M. (2020). Students’ perceptions towards working in the tourism and hospitality industry in United Arab Emirates. Al-Adab Journal, 135, 33–52. https://doi.org/10.31973/aj.v1i135.842

Mohammed, A. alem M. (2018). Students’ intention to join the hotel industry in Malaysia: the role of physical working conditions, pay and benefits, and promotion opportunities. Journal of Business & Retail Management Research, 12(04). https://doi.org/10.24052/JBRMR/V12IS04/ART-24

Ozturk, A. B., Hancer, M., & Im, J. Y. (2014). Job characteristics, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment for hotel workers in Turkey. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 23(3), 294–313. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2013.796866

Pusiran, A. K., Janin, Y., Ismail, S., & Dalinting, L. J. (2020). Hospitality internship program insights. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 12(2), 155–164. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-12-2019-0079

Qiu, S., Dooley, L., & Palkar, T. (2017). What factors influence the career choice of hotel management major students in Guangzhou? Independent Journal of Management & Production, 8(3), 1092–1115. https://doi.org/10.14807/ijmp.v8i3.618

Qu, H., Leung, X. Y., Huang, S. S., & He, J. (2021). Factors affecting hotel interns’ satisfaction with internship experience and career intention in China. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 28, 100311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2021.100311

Ramayah, T., Ling, N. S., Taghizadeh, S. K., & Rahman, S. A. (2016). Factors influencing SMEs website continuance intention in Malaysia. Telematics and Informatics, 33(1), 150–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2015.06.007

Richardson, S. (2009). Undergraduates’ perceptions of tourism and hospitality as a career choice. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 28(3), 382–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2008.10.006

Richardson, S. (2010). Generation Y’s Perceptions and Attitudes Towards a Career in Tourism and Hospitality. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 9(2), 179–199. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332840903383855

Rodriguez, G. E. F. (2015). Craft-Based Learning: Practical and Theoretical Guidance for Teaching and Training in Hospitality Education. In Educational Strategies for the Next Generation Leaders in Hotel Management (pp. 196–216). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-8565-9.ch009

Roney, S. A., & Öztin, P. (2007). Career Perceptions of Undergraduate Tourism Students: A Case Study in. Turkey Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, 6(1), 4–17. https://doi.org/10.3794/johlste.61.118

Rosyidi, A. Z. (2024). The Effect of Training and Career Development on Employee Performance with Employee Engagement as an Intervening Variable. Jurnal Bisnis, Ekonomi, Manajemen, Dan Kewirausahaan, 4(2), 217–224. https://doi.org/10.31955/mea.v8i2.4354

Savickas, M. L. (2013). Career construction theory and practice. Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work, 2, 144–180.

Septiandiani, F., Nurzukhrufa, A., Munirwan, H., & Setiawan, A. (2021). Evaluating the integration of research-based internship with sustainable environmental thinking. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 881(1), 12014. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/881/1/012014

Sihite, J., Dewi, T. R., & Widyastuti, N. (2019). The tourism student social status: The role nature of work and career prospect. European Journal of Business and Management, 11(23). https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/EJBM/article/download/49209/50838

Siu, G., Cheung, C., & Law, R. (2012). Developing a Conceptual Framework for Measuring Future Career Intention of Hotel Interns. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 12(2), 188–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220.2012.678220

Swargiary, K. (2024). Redefining Reality: My Vision for an Education Rooted in Real-World Experiences. ERA, US.

Wang, C.-J., & Hsieh, H.-Y. (2022). Effect of deep learning approach on career self-efficacy: Using off-campus internships of hospitality college students as an example. Sustainability, 14(13), 7594. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137594

Wong, S. C., & Mohd Rasdi, R. (2019). Influences of career establishment strategies on generation Y’s self-directedness career: Can gender make a difference?. European Journal of Training and Development, 43(5/6), 435–455. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-08-2018-0082

Yiu, M., & Law, R. (2012). A review of hospitality internship: Different perspectives of students, employers, and educators. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 12(4), 377–402. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220.2012.729459

Yunus, I. Y., Ridzwan, F. S., Azhar, S. N., Rajis, A. S. M., Harun, N. A., & Omar, M. S. (2021). Tourism and Hospitality Students’ Perceptions of Careers in the Industry: A Case Study of Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. International Journal of Advanced Research in Education and Society, 3(2), 82–89. https://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijares/article/view/13489

Zopiatis, A., Theocharous, A. L., & Constanti, P. (2016). Adult vocational decision, career satisfaction and future intention: insights from the hospitality industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 28(12), 2696–2720. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2015-0099