FIELD Excursions As Pedagogical Tools In Tourism And Hospitality Higher Education: Comprehensive Study

Abstract

This in-depth research study investigates the use of field excursions as a pedagogical tool for learning in higher education and examines their value in promoting experiential learning. It specifically explores how students' cultural backgrounds influence their learning and social experiences before, during, and after these field excursions. The theoretical framework used for this research is based on Kolb's (2020) four-cycle model and offers a holistic perspective by addressing the social and educational aspects of field excursions. The study acknowledges that students' perspectives on the benefits and challenges of field excursions may differ depending on their cultural backgrounds. This qualitative research used a non-probability sampling strategy, enrolling only tourism and hospitality students from the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) and have previously participated in a field excursion to the Hunter Valley wine region in New South Wales, Sydney. The sample included undergraduate (UG) students aged 19-30, and has been divided into three groups: local, European, and Asian students. The triple-coding process was used to analyse comments in English. Themes openly coded the substantive comments, then axial coded them into three main categories. In addition, selective coding reveals the interconnectivity among the identified themes and categories. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the pedagogical efficacy of field excursions and offers insights into the nuanced experiences of students from diverse cultural backgrounds.