What influences Chinese students' intentions to pursue hospitality careers? A comparison of three-year versus four-year hospitality programs

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the determinants of Chinese hospitality students’ career intentions in the hospitality industry and to compare the determinants of students from three-year versus four-year programs based on the theory of planned behavior. Results indicated that students’ career intentions were positively influenced by their attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and previous work experience, while academic standing did not influence students’ career intentions. Specifically, the effect of subjective norms on career intentions was significantly stronger for students from three-year programs, while perceived behavioral control had significantly stronger influences on students from four-year programs.