Engagement and Performance: Basis for a Hospitality-inspired Framework in Mathematics in the Modern World

Abstract

Student engagement is a multidimensional construct associated with learning performance. Mathematics remains a foundational General Education course in undergraduate programmes and supports logical reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking. This study examined the engagement of Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) students in Mathematics in the Modern World at Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College and its relationship with selected academic performance indicators as a basis for developing a hospitality-inspired framework. Specifically, it determined students' performance in terms of attendance rate, quizzes, recitation, and term examination, and assessed their cognitive, behavioural, emotional, social, and technological engagement. The study employed a descriptive-correlational research design involving HRM students enrolled in Mathematics in the Modern World. Findings showed that the respondents had excellent attendance and very satisfactory recitation performance, whereas quiz performance was satisfactory and term examination performance needed improvement. In terms of engagement, the respondents showed very high cognitive, emotional, and social engagement, and high behavioural and technological engagement. Correlation analysis indicated that engagement dimensions were weakly associated with selected academic performance indicators. Cognitive and emotional engagement showed significant but weak positive associations with recitation, while term examination performance was not significantly related to any engagement dimension. Based on these findings, a hospitality-inspired Go-No-Go Framework, categorised into Reservation, Preparation, and Service, was developed to support contextualised mathematics instruction. The study concludes that hospitality-based contextualisation may provide a practical instructional direction for supporting engagement and learning experiences in Mathematics in the Modern World.