HALAL AWARENESS AMONG HOSPITALITY LECTURERS AND STUDENTS: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY AT CHENDEROH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MALAYSIA

This study investigates Halal awareness among hospitality lecturers and students at Chenderoh Community College, Malaysia. Halal awareness, defined as the understanding, perception, and practice of Halal principles, is crucial in ensuring compliance within the hospitality industry. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 50 respondents comprising 28 lecturers and 22 students through a structured questionnaire. The results reveal that knowledge has the strongest positive correlation with Halal awareness (r = .791, p < .01), followed by practice (r = .652, p < .01), and perception (r = .524, p < .01). This suggests that a comprehensive understanding of Halal principles and active engagement in Halal practices significantly contribute to heightened awareness. The study also found that lecturers tend to have higher levels of Halal awareness compared to students, primarily due to their extensive exposure and professional experience. These findings indicate the need for more robust educational interventions that integrate theoretical and practical aspects of Halal education to bridge the knowledge and experience gap among students. Curriculum reform in hospitality programs, including hands-on training and exposure to Halal certification processes, is recommended to enhance students’ preparedness for the industry. This study underscores the importance of a holistic approach, incorporating knowledge, perception, and practice to cultivate a well-rounded understanding of Halal standards among future hospitality professionals.