Updating Approaches
Featured From Contemporary Travel to Cracking the Code on Modern Tourism Travel Habits among College Students: Multiple Study Abroad Experiences and Integrative Learning View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Katrina B Reed, Madelyn Plenskofski, Gabriella Gibilante, Ja’la Brown, Erica Avila
This study investigates the evolving landscape of modern student travel through the unexplored intersection of multiple study abroad experiences and integrative learning among college students. While integrative learning traditionally focuses on connecting coursework within customized majors, this research innovatively applies the concept to contemporary travel patterns through multiple study abroad experiences. Through a qualitative study of 12 undergraduate students who participated in educational programs across 10 different countries, we examine how multiple study abroad experiences impact students' professional and personal development within four key areas of the integrative framework: application, comparison, context understanding, and synthesis. Using an innovative technological immersed photo elicitation methodology, we conducted semi-structured interviews to analyze students' experiences. Findings reveal strong alignment with integrative learning principles, particularly in life connections, critical decision-making, and navigational competence in new situations, though synthesis of experiences emerged as a challenge area. The study demonstrates that expanding financial access to international travel could significantly enhance students' creative thinking, cultural intelligence, and problem-solving capabilities, particularly among underrepresented populations. Through examining tourism practices through a socio-economic lens, we uncover how leisure mobility shapes worldviews, interpersonal relationships, and professional aspirations. This research provides valuable insights for administrators, policymakers, and tour operators in developing more inclusive and effective study abroad programming, while introducing a novel framework for assessing educational returns on investment in international education.
International Education in Challenging Times: Virtual Experience for International Education
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Huiping Li
I had been taking both undergraduate and graduate students to China for thirteen years prior to COVID-19. Through tours and guest lectures conducted in two Chinese cities, Beijing and Shanghai, students learned about Chinese politics, society and culture. Students observed China’s economic growth first-hand and saw how China’s political history has shaped its society and business environment. Students described the trip as a “life changing, enlightening and eye-opening experience.” In 2020, when the pandemic began, I quickly converted my course into a virtual tour, entitled “Experiencing China Virtually.” Students now “visit” different cities in China by watching videos, reading articles, and by visiting museums , schools, and art centers remotely from their classroom. I act as a tour guide and guest speakers and arrange for other guest speakers, to stimulate discussion and answer their questions about the cities they are visiting. The course allows students to see how China has changed from a poorly developed country into an economic powerhouse, and to see how recent economic and political history has reshaped modern China. During the semester, students watch videos, read books, research articles, meet guest speakers (virtually) and participate in forum discussions. With rising fuel prices and airfares, climate changes and geopolitical tensions throughout the world, virtual trips may be the future of international education. This abstract may serve as a catalyst service for hospitality industry and educators to devise more and better ideas to improve virtual travel, educational experiences.
Featured Exploring Entrepreneurial Wellbeing: The Study of the Scottish Hospitality Sector View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Pabby Johnson, Scott Foster
This research explores the concept of wellbeing from the perspectives of business owners within micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Scotland’s hospitality sector. While wellbeing is increasingly recognised across disciplines and larger organisations are investing in employee wellbeing, MSMEs remain underrepresented in research. Most existing studies focus on employees in large firms or quantitative assessments, with limited emphasis on entrepreneurial wellbeing. Given the vital contributions of MSMEs to economic and social development, this research addresses the gap by examining how wellbeing is understood and experienced by owners in this sector. The study adopts a qualitative, interpretivist approach, using semi-structured interviews with micro and small business owners (with 1–49 employees) in Scotland. A purposive and snowball sampling strategy is employed, supplemented by secondary data on external environmental factors. The research integrates psychological wellbeing theories—including Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the PERMA model, and Ryff’s six dimensions of wellbeing—to explore how business owners define wellbeing, how environmental turbulence affects them, and what wellbeing practices exist for them. Scotland, which has the highest number of registered hospitality businesses among the UK’s devolved administrations, serves as the geographical focus. The research acknowledges the unique operational challenges and adaptive nature of the hospitality sector, particularly post-pandemic. This study aims to broaden understanding of entrepreneurial wellbeing and its implications for productivity, resilience, and business sustainability. Findings are expected to inform policy, support initiatives, and promote wellbeing practices tailored to the needs of MSME owners in the Scottish hospitality industry.
