Irene Chan Cheng Chu’s academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in hotel management from UTM. After years of industry experience and further studies, she has returned to her alma mater—not only to contribute to research in her field but also to nurture the next generation of hospitality professionals and scholars.
Dr. Chan now serves as the Coordinator for Bachelor’s Degree Programmes (Chinese medium) at the Faculty of Innovative Hospitality Management and the Faculty of Creative Tourism and Intelligent Technologies. Prior to returning to UTM, she worked for one of Macao’s integrated resort operators and later held an administrative role at a local university following her graduation in 2011.
But academia remained her calling, sparked during her undergraduate studies at UTM. “With every research project, you inevitably learn something new—whether it’s a method, a theory, or even an entirely unfamiliar field,” she explained. “There’s always something to gain, and I truly feel that I’ve grown each time.”
After earning a master’s degree of business administration from the University of Macao and a PhD from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, she joined UTM as a faculty member in 2020. “My academic interests lie in tourism and hospitality, and UTM is the best school in Macao for these fields,” she said. “On top of that, as an alumna, I genuinely wanted to come back.”
In response to growing demand from local and regional markets, UTM has expanded its Chinese-medium offerings in recent years. In the 2024/25 academic year, the Faculty of Innovative Hospitality Management and Faculty of Creative Tourism and Intelligent Technologies offer five bachelor’s programmes in Chinese: Cultural and Heritage Management, Hotel Management, Tourism Business Management, Tourism Event Management, and Marketing and Brand Management.
As a coordinator, Dr. Chan plays a key role in supporting these programmes, which attract not only students from Mainland China but also individuals from Macao, such as working professionals seeking to upgrade their skills.
She also oversees adjunct faculty and teaches courses such as Research Methods, Quantitative Methods in the Service Industry, and Smart Tourism for both daytime and evening programmes. To motivate students and make a lasting impact, she incorporates elements of games and technology to make her lectures more engaging. For instance, she has used Lego bricks to explain the concept of linear programming.
Strive for excellence
Despite her administrative and teaching responsibilities, she remains committed to her research, focusing on technological applications in hospitality, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and social media. “In hospitality and tourism, the use of technology like AI and robotics isn’t yet widespread, and in some ways, it clashes with the industry’s human-centric nature,” she said. “The human element can never be fully replaced. The real challenge lies in striking the right balance when integrating technology.”
Juggling multiple responsibilities, she credits her time as an undergraduate at UTM with helping her hone essential skills—from time management to teamwork. “With many group projects at the time, I learned how to work as part of a team and get along with others,” she recalled. “Those experiences shaped my approach to tasks and taught me how to present the best version of myself in everything I do.”
In an industry evolving at breakneck speed, Dr. Chan believes future professionals must be well-rounded—with strong digital literacy, interpersonal skills, and an innovative mindset. But she also urges students and graduates not to fixate on outcomes, quoting one of her personal mottos, “Go slow to go fast”.
“Enjoy and focus on the process, not just the result. As long as you put your heart into your work, everything else will naturally fall into place,” she added.