As globalisation continues to intensify, international cooperation grows ever closer. The Macao University of Tourism (UTM), a distinguished institution of education blending the essence of Chinese and Western cultures, remains committed to providing students with a global academic exchange platform. Here, learners from around the world explore knowledge, share experiences, and expand their international perspectives in a multicultural environment.
Drawn to Macao’s status as a world-famous tourism destination and its outstanding customer service, Jane Lee Pei Chen, a student from Taipei, Taiwan Region, opted to study at UTM. For her, UTM is not only a prestigious university in Asia, it also boasts a wealth of educational resources, an outstanding faculty team, and strong industry connections, ensuring that students gain cutting-edge expertise and hands-on experience.
Lee highlights: “Macao is known for its unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, a destination where UNESCO heritage sites coexist with modern entertainment facilities, providing me with valuable insights into diverse traveller preferences and behaviour.” Inspired by family holiday experiences from an early age, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management at Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (the predecessor of UTM) in 2013, later accumulating extensive professional experience overseas. To further hone her professional skills, she returned to her alma mater in 2024 to pursue a Master of Science in International Hospitality Management.
She shares: “UTM’s hotel management curriculum emphasises collaborative and project-based learning, requiring teamwork in every course. This has challenged me to enhance my academic research skills while strengthening key soft skills such as teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving. The university brings together faculty and students from all over the world, enabling me to engage in continuous cross-cultural exchanges and broaden my global network.”
Throughout her studies, Lee has gained valuable local insights into industry trends, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical skills and laying a strong foundation for her career. She emphasises: “The immersive education at UTM has sharpened my sensitivity to cultural differences, teaching me how to maximise resource efficiency in limited spaces and tailor services to travellers from diverse cultural backgrounds.”
Eyeing the future, Lee hopes to bring the expertise and innovative mindset she has cultivated in Macao back to hometown, injecting fresh impetus into the local tourism and hospitality industry while fostering a win-win collaboration between the two cities. With confidence, she states: “We excel in cultural creativity and agricultural tourism, while Macao shines in international tourism product development and high-end hotel management. By establishing an exchange platform between the two cities, both sides can leverage strengths to complement each other and create more development opportunities.”