Abstract:

After studying the future, trends and evolution of hotel management higher education (Demaeght de Montalay, 2021) and questioning the flexibility and length of study programs in both business management and hotel management higher education (Demaeght de Montalay, 2023), we wanted to think about the relevance of the race for accreditation in vocational education, and more specifically in hotel management studies.

Without calling into question the validity, usefulness or necessity of accreditation programs, they have their share of constraints that are not necessarily compatible with the specific features of higher vocational education. Are the marketing benefits and prestige associated with these accreditations worth the concessions made in terms of professional specificities and academic freedom?

In many countries, vocational studies are governed by the Ministry of Labor, while more academic studies are under the responsibility of a Ministry of Higher Education. This situation may create a feeling of a two-speed, or at least two-tier, education system. Some vocational schools for specific fields such as hospitality or hotel management schools are therefore tempted to compensate for a feeling of inferiority by switching from one system to the other. Aren't they losing more in terms of specificity than they gain in terms of reputation or credibility?

As a first step, we analyzed the accreditations and recent evolution of those for programs in the major hotel management schools.

We thus defined the differences of curricular contents that are function of accreditation standards and/or constraints. A more in-depth analysis will focus on cases in which curriculum contents have been changed due to these constraints (change from a certified qualification to an accredited qualification, Programme Grande Ecole, etc.).

The second part of the study is devoted to case studies of the schools identified in the first part, and to the consequences of the changes made. A qualitative study is carried out on the consequences for commercial recruitment of students and academic quality.

The final section will examine the results of the cases analyzed and make specific recommendations for the future, with a view to balancing the academic offer between certain less accredited programs with more vocational aspects, and other programs with higher levels of accreditation but sacrificing part of the professional aspect.

Based on these new recommendations, we will look at possible bridges and collaborations between higher accreditation level business schools and lower accreditation level vocational schools.

Keywords:

Hospitality Education, Hotel Schools, Vocational Education, Business Schools, Higher Education Curriculum.