Article 2025

A Case Study of Hospitality Internship Program During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education
Journal
Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges, significantly affecting economic development, the hospitality industry, and the educational sector. In Taiwan, internships are a mandatory component of Hospitality Management studies, offering students critical exposure to real-world environments. This study employs a qualitative case study approach to explore the experiences of hospitality students during their internships, particularly under alert level 3 of the pandemic. By integrating coping strategies into the analysis, the research provides insights into how students and organizations navigated through the crisis. Data were collected through online meetings and surveys with 67 undergraduate students, with 62 valid responses from the subsequent questionnaire survey. Content analysis and triangulation techniques were used to enhance research quality. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing student safety and fostering resilience through internship programs. The study offers practical implications for educators, advocating for robust contingency planning and the integration of resilience-building strategies in hospitality education. © 2025 ICHRIE.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Experiential learning coping strategies COVID-19 Vocational higher education Hospitality internship

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Hospitality Management, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
Department of Food and Beverage Management, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Department of Food and Beverage Management, Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
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