This research explores the concept of a connected curriculum development (CCD) to Sekolah Tinggi Pariwisata Bandung (STPB) in Indonesia in order to increase the relevance of Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) education for the student labour market and the T&H industry. Complexity theory offers a framework for the curriculum developers to examine and make sense of the T&H CCD approach.
This research offers an explanation for the STPB’s curriculum developers for an alternative strategy to determine which is the most useful curriculum development (CD) approach for the type of student learning through a non-technical/non-scientific approach. This ranges from design to evaluation, characterised through phases that mainly emerge from the educational key stakeholders. The CCD approach underpins curriculum studies and is characterised by six connected phases. Thus, it could assist STPB curriculum developers to ease the curriculum’s ‘hidden agenda’ and bridge the divide between Indonesian T&H educators and T&H sector in relation to the vocational and academic debate.