Investigation of the suitability of tourism education curriculum in Azerbaijan with the tourism industry in terms of academics and students

The globalization of the tourism industry has necessitated the development of tourism education in parallel with the ever-changing demands of this versatile sector. This thesis includes a qualitative examination of the fit between tourism education programs offered by Azerbaijani universities and the evolving demands of the dynamic tourism industry. The main aim of the thesis is to evaluate to what extent the current curriculum adequately prepares students to face multifaceted challenges and seize various opportunities in the tourism sector. This study uses a qualitative research design using in depth interviews as the primary data collection method. The interviews were set up to reflect the perspectives of academics and students, each representing a critical group of stakeholders. Thematic analysis, a qualitative data analysis technique, was applied to the collected interview data to reveal recurring patterns and themes. The findings of the study make a significant contribution to the intersection of academic programs and industry needs in the field of tourism education. Insights from the study inform academic institutions about potential curriculum improvements and pedagogical adjustments that could promote an educational framework that is aligned and more responsive to industry dynamics. Additionally, the study facilitates collaborative strategies to holistically develop the tourism workforce by helping industry stakeholders understand the strengths and limitations of current training paradigms.