Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Higher & Adult Education

Committee Chair

Michael Miller

Committee Member

Stephen Zanskas

Committee Member

Timothy Ryan

Abstract

The gap between academic preparation and industry expectations in hospitality, tourism, and culinary education represents a persistent challenge for higher education programs and industry stakeholders alike. Despite growing attention to workforce readiness, relatively few studies have examined this gap from the student perspective using a validated, hospitality-specific measurement instrument. The purpose of this study is to examine undergraduate and graduate students' perceptions of academic–industry alignment and self-reported professional readiness within hospitality, tourism, and culinary programs at accredited colleges and universities in the United States. Grounded in Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), this study frames student perceptions as products of engagement within overlapping academic and professional activity systems, providing a theoretically robust lens through which to interpret alignment and readiness as systemic rather than individual phenomena. This study employs a non-experimental, quantitative, cross-sectional survey design utilizing the Flohr Learning Alignment and Professional Readiness Scale (FLAPR), a newly developed instrument designed to measure the constructs of Learning Alignment and Professional Readiness from the student perspective. A target sample of 200 participants will be recruited through outreach to hospitality programs across the United States. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha reliability analysis, and exploratory factor analysis. The findings are expected to contribute a validated measurement instrument to the field, advance theoretical understanding of how institutional and experiential factors shape student workforce readiness, and provide actionable insights for hospitality program administrators, educators, and industry partners seeking to strengthen the alignment between academic preparation and professional practice.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Open Access

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