Commissioned by: Research Centre Global Minds @Work, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Employees of the Hotel Management School Maastricht have been noticing for several years that there are hardly any Dutch candidates with a migration background in the Dutch-language Bachelor’s program in Hotel Management. However, it is relevant to have more diversity within the Bachelor’s program given the nature of the hotel management profession: managing a hospitality organization where diversity among target groups is the norm.

Furthermore, society and the labour market are becoming increasingly diverse, leading employers and employees to become more aware of cultural diversity at the workplace.  Universities of Applied Sciences are training grounds for society and the labour market at large. It is therefore important that students have intercultural competencies by the time they graduate, especially given the nature of their profession, which inherently serves a diverse client base. One avenue for addressing these competencies is to improve the cultural diversity of students in the hospitality management program.

Regional Capital has been asked to investigate, via desk research, a literature review, focus groups and interviews, why Dutch young people with a migration background do not choose the Dutch-language Bachelor’s program in Hotel Management at the Hotel Management School Maastricht.

In collaboration with: Ankie Hoefnagels, Tom Kuypers, Hilde Hanegreefs and Elina Veelenturf (Research Centre Global Minds @Work)