Using Partial Least Squares to Measure Tourism Students’ Satisfaction with Work-Integrated Learning

Abstract

Work-integrated learning placement experience can either validate or contradict students ’ expectations regarding the industry, job roles and interests, expectations of industry employers, and personal fit with the profession. Determining students ’ satisfaction with the placement experience will provide valuable insight to academic institutions. This chapter will explore the preplacement expectations and postplacement perceptions of tourism students and propose a conceptual model for the tourism student ’ s satisfaction with work-integrated learning. Data were collected using a survey of third-year tourism students. A conceptual model was proposed and analyzed using SmartPLS. The analysis indicated that postplacement perceptions have a significant influence on the satisfaction of WIL. The conceptual model showed an R 2 value of 0.427, indicating a substantial impact on satisfaction with WIL.