Generation H: Exploring the potential of school outreach programmes in Higher Educational Settings to promote hospitality as a career

Introduction: Generation H is a civic outreach programme engaging local Secondary Schools in the North Belfast area to learn about the hospitality industry and its subsequent career opportunities. This study aims to explore the potential for utilising a school outreach programme in a Higher Educational (HE) setting to meet the current hospitality skills gap which has been identified as a priority area within Northern Ireland (NI). The NI Skills Strategy has highlighted need for workplace ready staff and promotion to entice young people to careers within the hospitality industry1.

Methods: A four week cross community outreach programme involving three Secondary schools will be recruited onto the programme in March 2019*. A pre and post survey on students’ perceptions of the hospitality industry and the outreach programme will be used to identify their understanding of and aspiration to gain employment within this industry.

Results: This study will provide evidence on students perceptions of the hospitality industry as well as the influential role of school outreach programmes in making a civic contribution by promoting the employability skills gap within hospitality industry.

Conclusion: The results of this study will be used to highlight key learnings for educators to explore ways to embed outreach programmes into course curriculum to create civic-minded institution.