Toward a comprehensive understanding of competencies in culinary programs within hospitality and tourism: an exploratory literature synthesis

Abstract

This study provides a structured synthesis of academic literature on culinary competencies within hospitality and tourism education. Drawing on a systematically selected sample of 40 peer-reviewed publications spanning 1988–2025, the study examines the evolution, fragmentation, and emerging integration of competency domains. This study applied a systematic literature review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. A systematic search of Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted, supplemented by reference list screening. A thematic synthesis approach was employed, categorizing competencies into four domains: technical, managerial, sustainability, and digital/entrepreneurial. The analysis reveals a clear shift from predominantly technical skill-based models toward multidimensional competency frameworks incorporating sustainability, entrepreneurship, and digital/AI literacy. However, persistent challenges remain, including conceptual fragmentation, limited longitudinal evidence, and misalignment between academic curricula and industry expectations. Although comprehensive, the review may have excluded non-indexed publications. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, cross-cultural, and mixed-methods approaches to validate competency frameworks. This study extends prior reviews by incorporating post-2021 developments, particularly sustainability and AI-driven competencies, and offers one of the first structured syntheses integrating both thematic and chronological analysis of culinary competency literature.

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