| Confucian tradition has been a consistent influence in the development of the Taiwanese educational system. Confucius advocated learning through diligence, progression, perseverance, and discipline in the intellectual rather than practical endeavors which were considered to be outside of education. Therefore, in traditional thinking, technical education focused on an inferior subject, that of occupational competency. Many if not most Taiwanese parents hope that their children can have a "white collar" job instead of a "blue collar" job. The place of vocational education in Taiwan has begun to change, however, with the Ministry of Education's 1994 decision to initiate the establishment of vocationally oriented programs in higher education. A number of universities and colleges have begun to operate programs which focus on various aspects of the hospitality industry such as food and beverage management, restaurant management, hotel management, and leisure management. This trend has been strengthened by the rise of the service sector as a major segment of the employment market in Taiwan.; This study investigated the consensus of opinion or two groups, Taiwanese university vocational educators and five star hotel managers, regarding the components of an effective hospitality management internship program. The study used the Delphi method and involved two hundred and eight managers and educators. The participants were divided into two groups of on hundred and three managers and one hundred and five educators. Ten from each group were selected to be the participants in the first, second and third round of surveys of the Delphi methodology. The remainder of one hundred and eighty-eight manages and educators were asked to answer the fourth and the fifth Likert-type questionnaires.; The results of the final questionnaires were analyzed and all items which reached a level of 60% consensus of importance were retained among the total of 145 items which comprise the research populations' primary recommendations in the areas of internship recruitment, residential arrangements, curriculum, and compensation. These components have been organized into a theoretical framework which has been titled the Taiwan Hospitality Management Internship Model (THMIM). This model is recommended for consideration, testing and use by the educational institutions and hospitality industry segments which are operating or are contemplating the development of an internship program. It may also be helpful as a paradigm for senior vocational high schools. |
