The Role of Experiential Learning in Educating Responsible Citizens

The effectiveness of experiential learning has been widely researched and applied. Its application has also been linked to service learning to help learners to acquire specific knowledge and skills, as well as to develop ethical sense and responsibility in society. This aspect recently gained attention in a leading management education journal (Steiner & Watson, 2006). In response to this research, this chapter explores the effectiveness of a study adopting an experiential learning approach to enhance civic awareness and social responsibility in international business management courses, with a focus on hospitality and tourism management (HTM). According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO, 2014), tourism is one of the fastest growing international service industries in the contemporary era. In 2013, international tourism arrivals reached a record of 1,087 million. This was accompanied by the substantial growth in tourism receipts, when more than 30% of the top 50 international tourism earners reached a two-digit record. This influential change has triggered rising concerns about the skills and knowledge that need to be acquired by business students to prepare for this trend in international business management. The chapter therefore aims to explore (a) the overall satisfaction of engaging in an experiential learning project; (b) the perceived value of experiential learning, and particularly service learning, among HTM students; (c) the effectiveness of experiential learning in developing generic skills, civic awareness and social responsibility; and (d) the future intention of students to become involved in and contribute to social-related matters. This chapter is divided into five sections.