The Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT)’s Open Day was held on 5 March, 2011 from 1100 – 1700. The purpose of this Open Day is to allow the graduating students, parents and general public to find out more about IFT’s teaching philosophy, facilities, study environment and programmes through activities such as experience sharing, exhibition and campus tour.
Two sections of “Programme Briefing and Meeting with IFT Alumni” were arranged, Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT and Mr. Antonio Chu, Registrar of IFT introduced the new move of IFT and admissions information, while several IFT alumni who are now serving the tourism and service industry came back to their alma mater sharing their learning experience at IFT and also the career prospect. The response was amazing with over 800 participants joining the programme.
What made IFT Open Day unique was that the whole event, from planning to actual operations, were all coordinated by IFT students. Same as previous years, over 70 students from 2nd year of the Tourism Event Management major, together with other volunteers and staff, took part in different roles to welcome their guests, present them the Institute and show them around the campus. They were dedicated to give all visitors an unforgettable day! IFT believes in obtaining a balance between theory and practice. The event did not only give students a good opportunity for team building and put what they had learnt in practice, but also provided them a chance to share their life at IFT with the graduates-to-be, parents and the general public.
At the event, IFT students, professors and alumni shared their experience, in a lively manner, with the visitors and showed them the importance of the tourism and service industry to Macao. What had given most visitors the deepest impression was the assorted “work stations” set up at the training units and classrooms. While showing the basic operations in the hospitality and service industry, visitors could also take part in the tasks and experience the fun of learning!
Hospitality and service industry has become the No. 1 business in Macao. IFT, thus, was specially founded by the Macao SAR government to provide tertiary education in tourism, hospitality and event management. It later became the first United Nation World Tourism Organization UNWTO TedQual certified institution in tourism education by UNWTO Themis Foundation. On top of showing the visitors Macao’s tourism industry, the campus and programmes, “IFT Open Day” acquainted them the fact that this tourism education institute in Macao, founded locally, was recognized internationally. IFT may or may not be their choice but they can always be proud of their city for reaching world-class education standard.
IFT welcomes you all to join us. Let’s fly high with the tourism industry!