Innovation in Higher Education:

Abstract

language proficiency and intercultural communication competence have become core determinants of high-quality tourism human resources, particularly management-level personnel who have graduated from universities. This paper evaluates the current competency status of tourism students, highlighting the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical adaptability, as well as deficiencies in cultural intelligence when handling complex practical situations. Using a narrative review, a case study, and the synthesis of modern educational theories, the study proposes a breakthrough, integrated framework of solutions for higher education institutions. Key solutions include implementing English-medium instruction (EMI) for specialized major courses, standardizing the Intercultural Communication module, applying project-based learning, and promoting the "Enterprise Semester" model in collaboration with international hotel corporations. The research findings provide a viable solution framework to help universities innovate their training curricula, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Vietnamese tourism graduates.