Assessment of Tourism Education and Career Perceptions Among Undergraduate Students in Taraba State, North East Nigeria

This study assesses tourism education and career perceptions among undergraduate students studying hospitality and tourism management in Taraba State, North East Nigeria. Career perception is a significant predictor of graduate retention within the tourism sector, and understanding how students view the industry is important for programme design and industry recruitment planning. A descriptive survey design is employed with questionnaires administered to 180 undergraduate students across two tertiary institutions in Jalingo, the state capital. Variables assessed include perceived career prestige of tourism careers, industry knowledge levels, awareness of career pathways, salary expectations, and intentions to work in the tourism sector after graduation. Findings reveal that 61 percent of students perceive hospitality and tourism careers as less prestigious than careers in medicine, law, and engineering, a bias attributed to societal perceptions and limited industry role model visibility. Awareness of career diversity within the tourism sector is low, with 70 percent of students identifying only hotel and restaurant roles as available pathways. Salary expectations are also misaligned with industry realities for entry-level positions. The study recommends industry mentorship programmes connecting students with successful tourism professionals, revision of tourism curricula to highlight career diversity, and industry career fairs in Taraba State. Employer engagement in student internship placement is also strongly advised. Keywords: tourism education, career perceptions, undergraduate students, Taraba State, hospitality careers