The role of an academic group curator in the formation of future hotel and restaurant business specialists as professionals

Abstract

The article deals with the role an academic group curator in the formation of future hotel and restaurant business specialists as professionals. The aim of the article was to determine the influence of the academic group curator on the formation of future hotel and restaurant business specialists in the process of vocational training.

The concepts of «curator», «tutor», «mentor» are compared in the article. It is noted that having experience as the academic groups curator in the institutions of different levels of accreditation, the author will consider the academic group curator’s activity in the educational process of a university. The viewpoints of domestic and foreign scholars on the phenomenon of advisement, the curator’s functions, the curator’s qualities, the criteria for effective management of the educational work system at the curator’s level of are analyzed. The author provides her own definition of the term «the curator’s activity». The  academic group curator’s activity, is understood as a set of measures aimed at improving students’ adaptation process to the university space and to the chosen profession, which is carried out through the curator’s functions; constant curator’s interaction with the university administration, lecturers, students and their parents.

The article gives the example of the Curators’ Institute Activities of the Odessa National Technological University, which helps the academic groups curators in working with the students. It is mentioned that acting as a curator at one of the most numerous Odessa National Technological University faculties, i.e. Innovative Nutrition Technologies, Restaurant and Hotel Business, much attention is paid to the students’ patriotic education instilling love for Ukrainian traditions and respect for the traditions of other countries. In order to develop high moral qualities, the Institute of Culture has been established at Odessa National Technological University, where lectures on various topics are given and experienced specialists are invited.

It is noted that a professional’s personality formation begins at the stage of self-determination, at the second stage (self-identification) there is an identification with the profession (I am a future specialist) and ends at the stage of self-realization (whether this profession is needed for a student). Thus, for students’ formation as future professionals requires well-established interaction of all the participants in the educational process. According to the author’s position, the curator can act as a mediator between applicants, lecturers and management.