Re-Building Students’ Post-COVID-19 Confidence in Courses, Curriculum and Careers for Tourism, Hospitality, and Events

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the most significant disruption to education in history (United Nations, 2020), not least in Tourism, Hospitality, and Events (THE). While growing evidence explores the reshaping of higher education in a COVID-19 era, limited discussion exists on the specific impacts for current and future students of THE and the challenges of rebuilding student and wider stakeholder confidence in THE education and careers. This paper advances this discussion by focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on the THE educational experience. A case example approach is adopted to illustrate the responses of four universities in the pre, during, and post phases of students’ educational journey. Common approaches are drawn using lesson drawing, broader implications and issues affecting institutions and students are explored and lessons for the future of THE education are extrapolated. Finally, the paper also suggests avenues for future research.