A comparison of university students, faculty, and industry assessments of characteristics and skills necessary for a successful career in restaurant and hotel management by American and Russian hospitality graduates

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the skills sets necessary for career success by hospitality students upon graduation. Multiple studies were conducted in the United States and in Russia in order to determine what skills and characteristics future hospitality managers need to possess. However, hospitality education is a relatively new university discipline in Russia and does not have a long history in comparison with the United States.

This research study compares the assessments of American and Russian hospitality students, faculty, and industry. Respondents included hospitality students, hospitality faculty, and hospitality industry representatives in Texas (USA) and St. Petersburg (Russia). Students and faculty from major universities in Texas and Russia participated in the study as well as general managers and recruiters from restaurants and hotels in Russia and the USA. The instrument for this study was developed by Su, Miller, and Shanklin (1997). The instrument was modified and tested using two pilot studies. The results of the study indicated that respondents in both countries believe that human relations characteristics and skills are the most important trait hospitality managers need to possess, followed by conceptual characteristics and skiils and technical skills.

Respondents in both countries valued the importance of work experience however students and faculty members in Russia had much less actual practical experience than American students and faculty members. Russian university need to offer additional assistance to students and faculty members to support their acquisition of industry practical experience, analyze the hospitality educational experience of such countries as the United States, and build international partnership.