Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges and opportunities to introduce novel tools in teaching and learning. Among those tools is virtual reality which uses realistic scenarios without the cost of travel or commute, simplifying complex situations. In hospitality and tourism educational programs, industry certification training is frequent for a variety of different services. Traditionally, students would go through a hands-on, face-to-face certification process in which they present the required evidence and demonstrated specific skills and competences. Unfortunately, social distancing conditions and restricted travel has limited the possibilities for students to obtain specific certifications.

Virtual reality creates a documental circuit through which students can receive training and assess their competences, including the value chain designs, documenting the processes using videos and other technologies, and auditing different virtual processes. This paper describes the process that a private university in Mexico is undergoing to develop virtual reality certifications and process auditing for Higher Education programs in hospitality and tourism.

Keywords:

Virtual reality, digital skills, assessments, competences, hospitality and tourism sector.