Practical Training, Industry Partnerships, and Graduate Competency: Evidence from TVET Hospitality Programs in Accra, Ghana
Abstract
Despite the skills mismatch and perceived employability of graduates of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs in Ghana's hospitality industry‚ little empirical research has examined how practical skills training and collaboration between TVET institutions and industry stakeholders shape TVET graduate competency from an employer perspective in the Ghanaian hospitality industry․ This study seeks to fill that gap in knowledge․ A mixed-methods research design was employed to investigate the effect of practical training and industry collaboration on the employability of TVET graduates in the hospitality and tourism service sector of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana‚ focusing on selected three- four‚ and five-star hotels․ Quantitative data was collected through a survey of 264 hotel managers and supervisors․ Interviews were also conducted with hospitality stakeholders․ Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to analyze quantitative data․ Qualitative data was analyzed thematically․ Practical training was a statistically important predictor of graduate job competency (β=0․312‚ B=0․154‚ t=5․318‚ p<0․001)․ Quality of partnerships with industry was also a meaningful predictor of graduate competency (β=0․148‚ B=0․068‚ t=2․326‚ p=0․021)․ The two variables explained 51․5% of the variance in graduates' competency (R²=0․515‚ Adjusted R²=0․505‚ F(2‚261)=138․60‚ p<0․001)․ Qualitative results corroborate that partnerships provide exposure to workplaces and employment․ Partnerships are chiefly internship-based‚ with little active engagement in curriculum‚ mentoring and feedback․ Further‚ competency-based TVET requires systematic practical learning and effective institutionalized industry partnerships to support curriculum development‚ workplace-based assessment of students‚ mentoring and feedback for improving graduates' workplace preparedness and performance.