Allerius Yeung and Selina Li are final‑year students from Hong Kong pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Event Management at the Macao University of Tourism (UTM). For them, UTM has not only provided solid professional training but also helped them find their own pace of growth, bridging classroom learning and the workplace.
Allerius Yeung: Building Leadership Skills through the Event Club and Internships
Allerius had already studied tourism and hospitality subjects while in Hong Kong. When choosing a university, he decided to leave his familiar city. “UTM has an excellent reputation in tourism and event management, and I also wanted to experience a different learning environment from Hong Kong,” he says. He particularly appreciates that the curriculum in Macao emphasises hands‑on practice, and that the university maintains close industry links. “I believe this will prepare me well for a future career in events and public relations.”
During his four years at UTM, the most memorable experiences were not exams but two extracurricular activities. In his third year, he interned at the public relations department of MGM Macau, helping to plan media events, compile reports and coordinate logistics. “It gave me real insight into how a global brand runs public relations.”
In his spare time, he served as Vice President of the UTM Event Club, leading a team of students to organise campus activities. “Leadership, crisis management and teamwork, these are things you cannot learn from textbooks, were all honed through real‑world practice.” He also challenged himself to be the emcee for the university staff Christmas party and the MGM Regatta Photography Competition. “These experiences greatly boosted my confidence and public speaking skills.”
When asked how UTM has equipped him, Allerius believes the university successfully integrates theory and practice. “Whether it was event planning courses or real projects, such as coordinating ‘The Village’ vegetarian dinner or serving as stage manager for the ‘Music Night for University Students from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’, I gained both technical and soft skills. My internship and on‑campus work also helped me build a professional network.” He will graduate this June and has already been admitted to a master’s programme at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “I plan to return to Hong Kong for further studies, focusing on deepening my knowledge in tourism and event management.”
Selina Li: Starting Event Planning from Scratch
Selina also studied tourism and hospitality subjects in secondary school. “After being exposed to MICE knowledge, I became very interested in this field, especially in event planning.” Her secondary school tourism teacher had once taken students to visit UTM and strongly recommended the university. “So I paid close attention to the programme content and learning opportunities at UTM, and finally decided to come here.”
Her most precious memory at UTM is planning a complete event from scratch with her classmates. “From discussing the theme, to mid‑term preparation, and finally organising the whole event together, the process built closer bonds among us and allowed us to truly apply what we had learned in class.”
She believes UTM offers abundant hands‑on opportunities: “Planning events, first‑year rotations in different hotel departments, exchange programmes, and participating in student organisations – these experiences have given me more confidence to demonstrate my abilities during interviews. Moreover, UTM has many local internship partners in Macao, allowing me to experience first‑hand what it is like to work here.” She plans to return to Hong Kong after graduation to look for a job.
Allerius and Selina, come from the same city, both agree UTM’s practice‑oriented approach, international outlook and strong industry connections have made them more grounded and confident than when they first arrived.