Sustainability in Top Hospitality/Leisure Management Programs: Teaching for a Sustainable Future?

ABSTRACT Higher education (HE) programs in hospitality/leisure management studies offer the theoretical knowledge which should prepare graduates to be effective thought leaders for a changing global workplace. Previous research examined HE institutions’ role in preparing students for their professional careers by applying innovative and sustainable solutions to everyday problems. This study examines the top 50 international hospitality/leisure management programs of 2017 through a content analysis of their sustainability curriculum, mission/vision statement, and projects to establish a link between school reputation, sustainability courses and practices, and authentic student engagement. The premise is that top ranked hospitality/leisure management programs will be leaders in sustainability courses and practices. The results demonstrate that the majority of top ranked programs currently offer between zero and five sustainability courses in their undergraduate hospitality/leisure management programs. Hospitality/leisure management programs worldwide need to reconsider their undergraduate programs to prepare positive social change agents for the 21st century workplace.