Gendered and diversified? Leadership in global hospitality and tourism academia
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
ISSN: 0959-6119
Article publication date: 27 April 2020
Issue publication date: 27 April 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to represent a unique and original piece of research on full professors in global hospitality and tourism academia. Aimed at revisiting academic leadership, this study identifies its components and gains insight into the so far understudied dimensions of diversity in academic contexts worldwide.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examines the careers of senior researchers (R3 and R4, according to European Commission) in hospitality and tourism, with special attention given to diversity. Based on quantitative methodology and a standardised online search, it uses individual-level data to give insights into dimensions of academic leadership. Full professors from the UK, the USA, German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, New Zealand, China, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea) build the sample.
Findings
Academic leadership in hospitality and tourism academia is not yet fully tied to cooperation with industry, as predicted by the “Triple Helix” model. Currently, the majority of the intellectual component constitutes academic leadership, outweighing administrative and innovative angles. Gender, age and ethnic diversity are underrepresented. While some regions can be considered sealed to ethnic diversity, others are more open and attract international scholars.
Originality/value
Rooted in interdisciplinary explanations, this study is the first of its kind to consider various diversity dimensions of academic leadership from a global perspective. It not only enriches the notion of academic leadership but also provides several practical implications and suggestions for further research.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author is particularly grateful to her student assistant Karolina Kruszona for her invaluable help in data collection, as well as to editors of IJCHM and to four anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism and suggestions. The author is solely responsible for all potential errors or omissions contained herein.
Citation
Gewinner, I. (2020), "Gendered and diversified? Leadership in global hospitality and tourism academia", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 32 No. 6, pp. 2257-2282. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-07-2019-0621
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited