The Australian hospitality industry requires work ready graduates with the skills and capabilities to cope with real world problems. Increasing student numbers, time limitations and demand for online alternatives to face to face learning experiences has led to an urgent need for technology enhanced solutions to practice-based learning in hospitality. This project will trial, evaluate and promote virtual field trips (VFTs) and related pedagogies as tools to develop graduate employability skills and learning outcomes. Traditional hospitality fieldwork provides student-centred experiential learning and gives students an opportunity to establish authentic connections between course content and experiences. VFTs provide an alternative pedagogical approach to blending academic and practical learning by offering rich information, flexible access and an authentic learning experience. VFTs also provide an opportunity to showcase the operations of international hotels and independent restaurants to ensure that students are exposed to a variety of different designs, layouts and management practices.
