TALENT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UNIVERSITY-COMPANY COOPERATION: EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES FOR TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT IN CHINESE HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

University–company cooperation has emerged as a critical mechanism for closing persistent talent gaps in Chinese tourism and hospitality education. This study adopts a governance-oriented analytical lens to evaluate how structural and relational dimensions of cooperation shape program quality and workforce outcomes in Chinese higher education institutions. Employing a concurrent triangulation mixed-methods design, the study integrated quantitative survey data from 318 faculty members and 50 enterprise representatives with qualitative evidence derived from 12 in-depth semi-structured interviews. This design allowed simultaneous collection of statistical patterns and experiential insights, enabling cross-validation of findings across methodological strands. The study operationalized four independent constructs including Communication and Coordination (CC), Clarity of Cooperative Goals (CG), Policy and Regulatory Support (PS), and Resource Support and Practical Opportunities (RS) and one dependent variable, Cooperation Effectiveness (CE). Quantitative data were analyzed via statistical procedures including descriptive statistics, pearson correlation and multiple linear regression to identify direct and relative predictors of cooperation effectiveness, while qualitative evidence was examined through reflexive thematic analysis. A SWOT–TOWS strategic matrix was subsequently applied to translate empirical findings into institution-level intervention strategies. Results indicated that Communication and Coordination was the most influential predictor of Cooperation Effectiveness (β = 0.41, p < .001), followed by Resource Support and Practical Opportunities (β = 0.35, p < .001), Clarity of Cooperative Goals (β = 0.22, p = .001), and Policy and Regulatory Support (β = 0.15, p = .004). The regression model indicates that the predictors collectively explain 54.2% (R² = 0.542) of the variance in the dependent variable, confirming moderate-to-strong explanatory power. Overall, the study highlights that strengthening structured university–industry collaboration mechanisms can substantially enhance cooperative effectiveness across regional Chinese higher education contexts. Qualitative findings aligned with these patterns while revealing contextual factors such as communication informality, resource inequities, and organizational cultural differences, particularly among smaller enterprises. Six strategic interventions derived from SWOT–TOWS analysis were identified: (1) institutional communication platforms, (2) structured coordination and relational governance mechanisms, (3) shared resource infrastructure, (4) SME-focused partnership enhancement, (5) policy accessibility reform, and (6) digital tourism talent laboratories. The study contributes to collaborative governance literature by extending university–company cooperation research within the distinctive regional contexts of China and by emphasizing relational mechanisms embedded within communication and coordination processes rather than treating them as separate explanatory constructs.