Abstract

The purpose of the research discussed here is to explore relationships between a university and its local tourism industry. Although there has been much research on the interface between education and industry, few empirical studies exist that test the extent and nature of these relationships. The paper reviews the industry-education interface both in broad terms and specifically in relation to tourism education. Key areas of interaction are identified, and, using an empirical case study, various types of industry-education links are investigated, including: recruitment, employers' preferences in graduate skills, work experience and placements, industry involvement in course design, training for the tourism industry, the use by industry of university products and services, and industry's views on forging links with education. A number of recommendations are made for the improvement of industry-education links.