Barriers and Enablers of Online Instruction in Hospitality Education in the Philippines: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This study examined the barriers and enablers of online instruction in hospitality education. A sequential exploratory design was implemented with hospitality teachers from both public and private higher educational institutions in the Philippines. Thematic analysis of interviews identified four key themes: technological barriers, pedagogical challenges, institutional and personal support, and integration of artificial intelligence (AI). These themes were transformed into survey constructs and tested for reliability. Pedagogical challenges, including difficulties in teaching hands-on subjects and sustaining student engagement, emerged as the most critical concerns. Technological barriers such as unstable internet and limited devices were moderately rated, while institutional and personal support received mixed evaluations. Teachers viewed AI integration as helpful but also expressed caution and emphasized the need for training. Reliability analysis showed acceptable to good internal consistency across constructs. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening pedagogical training, providing clear institutional support, and fostering responsible competence in AI use. Future studies should validate these results with larger and more diverse samples.