TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving learning experiences for community college transfer hospitality and tourism students
AU - Chan, Eric Siu Wa
AU - Cheung, Kin
AU - Ching, Siu Yin
N1 - Funding Information:
Higher education institutions’ recruitment of CCTS is not a new phenomenon in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) government introduced community colleges in 2000, to provide students with the alternative of completing associate degrees if they failed to secure bachelor’s degree places (Education Commission Report, ). At present, eight of 21 degree-awarding institutions in Hong Kong are funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC), which provides a set quota of 15,000 places annually (“Hong Kong Education Bureau,” ). The transfer function of the associate degree makes it feasible for bridging associate degree/higher diploma holders to enter university. Therefore, many students, who could not get places in government-funded universities (mostly due to having failed one of the required core subjects such as English, Chinese, Mathematics or Liberal Studies), consider another admission route (senior year entry) via community colleges. Generally, CCTS are designated as year three students in their chosen 4-year undergraduate degree programmes if enrolled successfully via the senior year admission route. Consequently, they normally need to complete their selected programmes within two academic years (Cheung et al., ).
Funding Information:
The authors are grateful to all teachers and the college transfer students for their participation in the study and the funding provided by University Grant Committee (UGC) Funding Scheme for Teaching and Learning Related Proposals (Project Reference: PolyU6/T&L/16-19).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - Previous studies have addressed the topic of community college transfer students, but very few have examined students’ learning experiences after their transfer to a university, and none have focused on the hospitality and tourism discipline. This study aimed to understand community college transfer students’ expectations of hospitality or tourism undergraduate degree programmes and assess any differences between teachers’ and students’ views of these students’ learning experiences. A qualitative study was conducted with teachers and students, using semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews. The study revealed that the students encounter challenges such as campus and faculty environments, gaps in their expectations, heavy study loads, teaching methods, assessment of subjects, and social and affective development. The findings also showed that the feeling of inferiority could drive some students to strive hard to achieve their academic goals. Several strategies to improve students’ learning experiences are recommended.
AB - Previous studies have addressed the topic of community college transfer students, but very few have examined students’ learning experiences after their transfer to a university, and none have focused on the hospitality and tourism discipline. This study aimed to understand community college transfer students’ expectations of hospitality or tourism undergraduate degree programmes and assess any differences between teachers’ and students’ views of these students’ learning experiences. A qualitative study was conducted with teachers and students, using semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews. The study revealed that the students encounter challenges such as campus and faculty environments, gaps in their expectations, heavy study loads, teaching methods, assessment of subjects, and social and affective development. The findings also showed that the feeling of inferiority could drive some students to strive hard to achieve their academic goals. Several strategies to improve students’ learning experiences are recommended.
KW - Community college
KW - hospitality and tourism
KW - qualitative study
KW - transfer students
KW - undergraduate programmes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104433139&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15313220.2021.1905136
DO - 10.1080/15313220.2021.1905136
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1531-3220
VL - 21
SP - 268
EP - 289
JO - Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism
JF - Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism
IS - 3
ER -