Abstract:

The development of employability skills is increasingly valued, not only by higher education institutions (HEI), which assume a pivotal role in this context, but also by students, who depend on these same skills for their entrance into the labour market, and by companies, which are facing increasing difficulties in recruiting and retaining employees, particularly in the tourism industry. It is therefore imperative to reflect upon the challenges faced by HEIs in defining strategies for the employability of their students, which may include the definition of specific courses and modules, the integration of employability-related themes in syllabi, and the development of extracurricular activities that promote interaction between students and the market. These strategies, that range from workshops to job fairs and field trips, among others, can be instrumental in enhancing the development of employability skills, and also help students become more aware of their importance, in addition to encouraging proactivity and networking, which are key within this setting.

Bearing this in mind, as well as the need to understand the students' positions and the extent to which they value the opportunities provided by HEI and integrate them into their own learning/development path, this paper aims to promote reflection around this theme, making a contribution to the existing knowledge and to the ongoing discussion on the topic. Through the critical analysis of different examples and initiatives implemented by the authors, and considering, among other aspects, the way students perceive the role of HEI in the development of their employability skills, it will analyse the main theories/models on employability, crosscutting them with data stemming from observation and the analysis of student surveys, providing a practical and cross-cutting perspective on the development of students’ employability skills in hospitality and tourism.

Keywords:

Employability, Extracurricular Activities, Networking, Skills, THE.