Arnold Emilie, a French native raised in Macao, has always embraced a spirit of exploration and a deep passion for the tourism industry since a young age.
Cherishing her close connections with family in a city she calls home, she decided to pursue her studies at the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) where academic theory and industry practice received equal emphasis and attention, aiming to complete a Bachelor of Science in Tourism Retail and Marketing Management (programme rebranded in academic year 2024/2025 as Marketing and Brand Management.)
“We have a lot more group projects that we work on and there is also this aspect of hands-on experience in our courses. I have gained an insider perspective into the industry because of how closely we study the industry’s ecosystem and future trends, as well as the abundant opportunities through which we get to work with professionals and experts from the industry.”
During her academic pursuits at UTM, Emilie is proactive in challenging herself in a highly academic environment, and actively engage with industry professionals to grasp the inner workings of a fast-evolving industry.
She shares, “I would never have thought that I would get the chance during my studies to be able to get a taste of what working in the tourism industry would be like – alongside the professional elite in experiences that simulated critical thinking. Such experiences enabled us to foresee diverse career possibilities for the future."
Emilie believes that using the English language as a medium of instruction in class helps cultivate essential skills required for overseas work after graduation, such as public speaking and interpersonal communication, boosting her competitiveness for long-term career prospects.
UTM is dedicated to nurturing students' international perspectives and cross-cultural communication skills, offering a wide spectrum of inspiring opportunities for overseas exchanges.
Currently, Emilie is participating in an exchange programme at the Oxford Brookes University in the Untied Kingdom, empowering herself with Europe's kaleidoscopic advantages in geography and culture to consolidate clearer and broader professional development paths.
Reflecting on her unforgettable experiences, she recalls, "My time here has been nothing short of wonderful, I have made many friends. I can confidently say that all the cultural interactions have only added onto the eye-opening experience, I have learnt of so many things about cultural differences and so many different perspectives on things – which has helped me become clearer in what I want to pursue in the future and how I want to shape my career trajectory.”
Through this six-month exchange journey, Emilie plans to return to Europe for an internship in the future, further honing her professional skills in an increasingly competitive job market to stand out.