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Higher education institutions (HEI) are acknowledged as a key driver for the development of sustainable societies, so much so that some profess education for sustainable development to be the most fundamental of the United Nation’s (UN) 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). This chapter provides an overview of the chapters in the book: Higher Education for the SDGs, divided into two themes, namely (i) Research from the Global North and Global South and (ii) Rethinking curriculum.

This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of virtual tourism and its potential contribution to sustainable development in the tourism industry.

In this chapter, a qualitative approach is used to analyse relevant documents and resources to explore the relationship between virtual tourism and sustainability.

The findings of this study indicate that virtual tourism has numerous applications in the tourism industry, with evident potential for the future. Furthermore, this research identifies virtual tourism as a promising alternative for sustainable tourism, offering the potential to address key sustainability issues in the field.

This chapter adds to the existing literature by examining the link between virtual tourism and sustainability, highlighting the potential of virtual tourism as an alternative to traditional sustainable tourism practices. The insights generated from this study can inform the practices of both academics and practitioners in the tourism industry, promoting more sustainable and responsible tourism practices.

Business simulation games (BSGs) are gaining popularity in higher education as tools for entrepreneurial education. However, there are challenges in using BSGs for large classes of students in historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs). The challenges include limited resources and digital literacy skills.

The living standards measure (LSM) indicates socioeconomic status by measuring the degree of urbanisation, access to services and possession of assets, such as mobile phones. This research investigated the impact of students' living standards on their intention to use BSGs, as there is limited research.

This study used positivism and added LSM to the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Quantitative data from 224 third-year information system students at an HDI were collected through an online survey. Structured Equation Modelling was used to analyse the data.

Results indicated that performance expectancy and social influence significantly influenced the intention to use BSGs. However, the relationship between effort expectancy and behavioural intention facilitating conditions was not significant. The introduction of LSM as a moderator for the relationships between all variables and behavioural intention also proved to be insignificant.

The result was unexpected, as we posited that a lower LSM would affect students' intention to use BSGs. This was not proven in this study and could be related to students accessing campus resources. However, during times when access to campus is restricted, such as protest action, the result may change for students with lower LSM.

This chapter presents a recent study which explored the impact of entrepreneurship education on South African tourism students' entrepreneurial intention, regarding starting a tourism-related business after graduation. The study used a structured questionnaire to collect data from randomly selected tourism students in a South African comprehensive University. Study findings show that entrepreneurship education has an influence on tourism students' entrepreneurial intentions and perceptions of desirability and feasibility. The study results moreover reveal that having entrepreneurial family background and entrepreneurship education played a role in achieving entrepreneurial attributes and desirability. The adoption of various reform programmes targeted at enhancing the graduate employability and/or self-employment, such as the inclusion of a new entrepreneurial track to the undergraduate curriculum, is one of the study's recommendations for the department of tourism studied. Students should be encouraged to apply for the entrepreneurship education track, which includes business training as well as customised coaching and mentorship sessions with accomplished businesspeople, as early as in their first academic year.

The gastronomy industry is one of the industries in which consumers use technology most frequently, such as robotics, artificial intelligence and automation systems. Service robots are generally defined as online programs that can act independently or under the control of a human that can carry human characteristics such as speaking, understanding and acting. This study aims to examine and evaluate the studies on service robots in the gastronomy industry regarding quantity or quality, to understand the phenomenon more comprehensively, and to determine a holistic perspective. To this end, a qualitative research approach was adopted. Document technique was used to collect data within a systematic literature review framework, and the data were analysed by descriptive analysis. According to the findings, the papers on service robots in the gastronomy industry are still in their infancy, and these studies have increasingly gained speed in the last five years.

Introduction: The pandemic era has given rise to emerging VUCA factors, characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Navigating the impact of these challenges is essential for adapting and thriving in a post-pandemic world; therefore, it is important to identify VUCA factors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the VUCA factors that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on sectors such as hospitality, tourism, education, construction, manufacturing, Information Technology, healthcare, and automobiles.

Need for the Study: Analysing emerging VUCA factors is crucial for businesses to prepare for unforeseen events. While VUCA factors were previously studied during significant events like the Greater Recession, BREXIT, and demonetisation, the pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges, making the identification of emerging VUCA components crucial.

Methodology: The methodology involves reviewing articles and research papers to understand the pandemic’s impact on various sectors. The findings provide insights into prominent VUCA factors and their implications for businesses, contributing to existing knowledge.

Findings: This research uncovers the challenges organisations encountered in the pandemic’s VUCA environment, offering insights into uncertainties and strategies for survival. It highlights the importance of adaptability, resilience, and innovation in overcoming VUCA’s negative impacts and establishing a new business paradigm.

Practical Implications: This chapter is essential in providing valuable insights for organisations, policymakers, and businesses on crisis preparedness, emphasising the significance of agility, robust contingency planning, and sector-specific considerations. Reviewing operations and implementing backup plans, businesses can develop effective strategies for long-term resilience and success in the face of unforeseen disruptions.

One of the most well-known, seminal models in the tourism field is the one proposed 50 years ago by Stanley C. Plog. His venturesomeness model has been widely cited in journal articles, textbooks, and has also been used as a reference for planning and designing tourism marketing projects. However, empirical research using Plog's psychographics has yielded varied results, some of which have corroborated his model, while others have found partial or no support for some postulates. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to offer an exhaustive review of 47 studies in the literature which have employed Plog's venturesomeness concept to examine travelers' personality traits, attitudes, and behavior, synthetizing empirical findings and drawing conclusions from the cumulative results. A discussion of the model's contribution to the current body of knowledge, managerial implications for tourism practitioners, and directions for future research are presented.