Sustainable Personal Development Pathways: The Role of Pre-Internship Expectations Among Langkawi Tourism Academy @ Kolej Komuniti Langkawi Students

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of pre-internship expectations in shaping sustainable personal development pathways among students of Langkawi Tourism Academy @ Kolej Komuniti Langkawi. As the tourism and hospitality sector plays a key role in Malaysia’s economy, preparing graduates with appropriate skills, attitudes, and awareness is vital for long-term industry growth.

Research Method: A quantitative survey method is proposed, using a questionnaire adapted from previous studies (Khalib et al., 2022; Robitschek et al., 2012; Zopiatis et al., 2013).

Findings: The study demonstrates that pre-internship expectations significantly influence internship satisfaction, personal growth, self-efficacy, and employability among tourism students, explaining 62–84% of the variance. High mean scores indicate students’ optimism and motivation. Findings emphasize the importance of structured pre-internship preparation, reflective learning, and mentorship to enhance sustainable personal and professional development. Educators, industry partners, and policymakers are encouraged to align internship programs with student expectations to foster skill development, confidence, and career readiness in Malaysia’s tourism sector.

Originality: This study contributes to the body of literature by providing a fresh viewpoint on how students' expectations affect their self-efficacy, employability, and long-term development by tying together ideas of work-integrated learning, career preparedness, and sustainable education. Additionally, the study offers useful information that policymakers, business partners, and educators may use to create internship preparation programs that promote sustainable human capital development in Malaysia's tourism industry