Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 1302-1842 2587-005X Kütahya Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Human Resources Management Workforce Planning Employment Equity and Diversity Workplace Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life İnsan Kaynakları Yönetimi İşgücü Planlaması İstihdam Eşitliği ve Çeşitliliği İşyeri Refahı ve Çalışma Hayatının Kalitesi Turizm ve Seyahat Hizmetleri Programı Öğrencilerinin Staj Sürecindeki İlk Sektör Deneyimlerinin Nitel Bir Analizi A Qualitative Analysis of Tourism and Travel Services Students’ Initial Industry Experiences During Internship Period https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4668-5490 Gönül Eren AYDIN ADNAN MENDERES ÜNİVERSİTESİ, DİDİM MESLEK YÜKSEKOKULU, SEYAHAT, TURİZM VE EĞLENCE HİZMETLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, TURİZM VE SEYAHAT HİZMETLERİ PR. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2243-0063 Türkan Mehtap ÇANAKKALE ONSEKİZ MART ÜNİVERSİTESİ, GELİBOLU PİRİ REİS MESLEK YÜKSEKOKULU 04 30 2026 89 367 377 02 01 2026 04 29 2026 Copyright © 1999, Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 1999 Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Turizm eğitimi, teori ile hizmet sektörünün gerçekleri arasında önemli bir bağ kurmakta; staj uygulamaları ise öğrencilerin profesyonel yaşamla ilk gerçek karşılaşmalarını sağlayan önemli bir unsur olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Bu çalışma, turizm ve seyahat hizmetleri öğrencilerinin ilk staj deneyimlerinin sektör hakkındaki algılarını, motivasyon düzeylerini ve gelişen kariyer yönelimlerini nasıl etkilediğini araştırmaktadır. Yapılandırılmamış araştırma günlüklerinin tematik analizi kullanılarak, staj süreci; duygusal, bilişsel ve sosyal gelişimi teşvik eden çok boyutlu bir öğrenme biçimi olarak yorumlanmaktadır. Analiz sonucunda, motivasyon ve psikolojik durum; yönetim ve işyeri ilişkileri; eğitim ve mesleki gelişim; müşteri etkileşimi ile geleceğe yönelik kariyer algılarını kapsayan beş temel tema belirlenmiştir. Bulgular motivasyonun; yönetim davranışları, algılanan adalet ve iş yükü dağılımından derin bir şekilde etkilendiğini göstermektedir. Stajların, öğrencilerin öz yeterlilik, uyum sağlama ve mesleki kimlik duygusu geliştirmelerine yardımcı olan dönüştürücü deneyimler olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Stajları sadece mesleki yükümlülükler olarak değil, kimlik oluşturma süreçleri olarak ele alan bu çalışma, turizm eğitimi ile sektör gerçekleri arasındaki bağı güçlendiren mentorluk temelli ve eşitlik odaklı yaklaşımların değerini vurgulamaktadır.

Tourism education establishes an important link between theory and the realities of the service sector; internship programs are considered a crucial element in providing students with their first authentic encounters with professional life. This study explores how tourism and travel services students’ initial internship experiences influence their perceptions of the industry, motivation levels, and evolving career orientations. Using thematic analysis of unstructured research diaries, the internship process is interpreted as a multidimensional form of learning that promotes emotional, cognitive, and social growth. The analysis identified five key themes: motivation and psychological state; work environment and managerial relations; education and professional development; customer relations; career perceptions and future planning. The findings indicate that motivation is significantly influenced by managerial behavior, perceived fairness, and workload distribution. Internships are revealed to be transformative experiences that help students develop self-efficacy, adaptability, and a sense of professional identity. Framing internships as identity-building processes rather than mere vocational obligations, this study highlights the value of mentorship-based and equity-oriented approaches that strengthen the link between tourism education and industry realities.

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