Learning Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Tourism Students’ Perception of Experiential Teaching Methods

Francis Junior Quaye, Michael Kissi and Patience Hagan
Additional contact information
Francis Junior Quaye: Senior Instructor, Department of Tourism Management, School of Applied Arts, Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast, Ghana
Michael Kissi: Senior Lecturer, Department of Tourism Management, School of Applied Arts, Cape Coast Technical University, DL 50 Cape Coast, Ghana
Patience Hagan: Administrative Assistant, Records Section, School Clinic, Cape Coast Technical University, DL 50 Cape Coast, Ghana

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 2025, vol. 12, issue 2, 693-709

Abstract: The tourism industry requires workers skilled with both theoretical understanding and practical competencies of the field, underscoring the importance of experiential teaching methods in the training of students. This study examines tourism students’ impressions of these methods at Cape Coast Technical University in Ghana, contrasting them with traditional instructional methods. Utilising Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, the study investigates students’ comprehension of experiential methodologies, their effectiveness, and the challenges they encounter. We employed a mixed-methods strategy that integrated both quantitative and qualitative data collection. We distributed questionnaires to 162 tourism students participating in a census at Cape Coast Technical University. The survey comprised both closed- and open-ended questions, enabling statistical analysis and thematic categorization. We conducted thematic analysis on open-ended questions to extract detailed feedback and suggestions from the students. The findings indicate that students predominantly prefer experiential teaching methods due to their practical relevance and engagement. Challenges with the use of the method encompass inadequate resources, inconsistent implementation, and insufficient student confidence or self-efficacy. Recommendations for improvement emphasise resource allocation, the uniform implementation of experiential techniques, and improved student engagement initiatives. This study advances the discussion on innovative teaching methodologies, offering practical insights for educators and institutions to connect more effectively with industry requirements and improve student preparedness for industry and the world of work.

Date: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/d ... -issue-2/693-709.pdf (application/pdf)
https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/artic ... al-teaching-methods/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bjc:journl:v:12:y:2025:i:2:p:693-709

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation is currently edited by Dr. Renu Malsaria

More articles in International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation from International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dr. Renu Malsaria ().