Hospitality and tourism today operate across borders more than ever before. As a result, employers are looking for graduates who understand both local markets and international standards. To respond to this trend, Macao University of Tourism (UTM) has introduced its “3+1 Dual Bachelor’s Degree Programme” in collaboration with the Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS).
The pathway allows students to complete three years of study in Macao before spending a final year in Switzerland, graduating with two bachelor’s degrees, one from UTM and one from SHMS. The programme allows students to build a foundation in Macao before applying what they have learned in a different academic and cultural setting.
For three UTM students in Hotel Management programme, Bettie, Emma and Justin, the 3+1 journey has become a defining chapter in their academic and personal development. Their experiences show how the programme prepares them for work while broadening their perspectives on the industry.
A Global Career Passport in the Making
When asked why she chose the 3+1 pathway, Bettie Wei Xiaoqing’s answer is immediate and striking: “I didn’t just want a degree. I wanted a global career passport”.
For her, hospitality is an industry without borders. International exposure, cultural fluency and mobility are not optional advantages but professional necessities. The opportunity to study in Switzerland, widely recognised for its excellence in hospitality education, offered precisely the environment she was seeking.
“In the hotel industry, practical skills and international exposure are the most important. I wanted to experience both in a place where hospitality is deeply embedded in the culture.”, Bettie explained.
During her year abroad, Bettie found herself studying alongside peers from more than 30 countries. Classroom discussions often extended beyond textbooks, shaped by diverse perspectives and cultural experiences. It was during those discussions that she began to reflect more seriously on what she sees as the programme’s core value.
“The core value of this programme is cultural intelligence”.
For Bettie, cultural intelligence goes beyond learning to accommodate differences. It is the ability to understand underlying cultural contexts, communicate across perspectives and adapt service approaches to global guests. In hospitality, she notes, such sensitivity can determine whether an experience is simply satisfactory or truly memorable.
Outside the classroom, everyday life in Switzerland also became part of her learning experience. Short academic breaks allowed her to travel within Europe, observe service cultures in different cities, and reflect on how regional traditions influence hospitality standards. These experiences strengthened her sense of independence and adaptability.
Looking back, Bettie sees her 3+1 journey as transformative in ways she did not initially anticipate.
“It has made me more confident about working in different parts of the world”.
Her reflection also echoes what the programme hopes to achieve, helping students feel at ease in different cultures and professional environments.
Building Professional Confidence Across Borders
If Bettie’s journey is marked by global exploration, Emma Wong Ka Man’s story highlights steady growth and professional confidence built step by step.
“Hospitality is inherently international. It requires global vision and cross-cultural sensitivity”, she said. That understanding guided her decision to pursue the 3+1 pathway.
Emma appreciates the way the programme is structured, especially the clear progression from foundation to international exposure. “Three years in Macao built my professional foundation, and one year in Switzerland expanded my global outlook”.
At UTM, she developed a solid grounding in hospitality management theory, operational knowledge and service principles. Small class sizes and close interaction with faculty allowed her to refine her analytical thinking and communication skills.
Her transition to Switzerland brought a shift in pace and emphasis. Courses were strongly practice-oriented, frequently anchored in real-world case studies.
“We simulate hotel, spa and F&B operations, and even design high-end banquet events based on real industry cases”, Emma explained.
The teaching style required students to be disciplined and proactive. Students were expected not only to understand concepts, but also to apply them under realistic time constraints and performance standards. For Emma, the experience strengthened her adaptability and sharpened her professional instincts.
Her dedication did not go unnoticed. During her overseas study, Emma was recognised as Student of the Month, an honour awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence, professionalism and leadership potential.
Reflecting on the recognition, she remains characteristically modest.
“No matter the environment, being serious, proactive and positive is always the most valuable quality”.
Beyond technical skills, Emma emphasises the personal growth that came with living abroad.
“The biggest gain in Switzerland was not just academic improvement, but a change in my attitude toward life”.
Living abroad required her to manage her own time, work closely with classmates from different cultures, and adjust to new expectations, experiences that gradually built her confidence. Looking back, she feels the two stages of study complemented each other and helped her grow both academically and personally.
From Local Foundations to Global Leadership
For Justin Kuang Tingqiao, the 3+1 programme represents more than international exposure; it is an important step in planning his long-term career.
“The 3+1 pathway allows me to understand the local market while gaining a truly international perspective, which is a rare and valuable combination in the high-end tourism sector”.
He views Macao as an important training ground. With its dynamic integrated resort industry and multicultural visitor base, the city offers students early exposure to complex hospitality operations. Three years at UTM allowed him to study this environment in depth while building strong academic fundamentals.
His year in Switzerland added another dimension. The schedule was demanding, and expectations were high.
“The intensity trains not just academic skills, but professional resilience”.
For Justin, this rigour mirrors the realities of senior roles in hospitality management, where decision-making often occurs under pressure. He believes the programme prepares students not only to perform operational tasks, but to assume leadership responsibilities.
He is particularly impressed by the Swiss approach to service design.
“In Switzerland, hospitality is not just an instinct. It is a measurable system”.
From workflow design to guest experience evaluation, he observed how service excellence can be standardised, assessed and continuously improved. This systematic thinking, he notes, complements the relational strengths cultivated in Macao.
Justin also recognises the value of dual networks.
“One network grounds me locally, while the other opens doors on a global stage”.
The combination of regional industry connections and international alumni communities creates what he sees as a strategic advantage. Like Emma, Justin was honoured as Student of the Month, reflecting his academic performance and leadership qualities across different learning environments.
In summarising his experience, he offers a perspective that encapsulates the philosophy behind the 3+1 pathway:
“The strength of the programme lies in how the two stages connect,” he says. “What we learn in Macao is tested and expanded in Switzerland, and then brought back with new ideas”.
A Dual Pathway for a Global Industry
The journeys of Bettie, Emma and Justin show that the 3+1 Dual Bachelor’s Degree Programme is far more than an overseas study option. It connects two distinct learning environments, allowing students to experience both regional industry practice and international hospitality traditions.
Through its partnership with SHMS, UTM offers students both dual qualifications and the experience of studying in two distinct hospitality systems. They graduate with broader perspectives, hands-on experience and greater confidence as they enter an increasingly international industry.