Dr. Cindia Lam Ching Chi has held various roles at UTM and its predecessor for the past two decades; she is currently the Dean of the Institute of Executive and Professional Development (IEPD). In her current position, she aims to transform public perceptions about professional courses and advance the programme portfolio at the UTM unit
For the past two decades, Dr. Cindia Lam Ching Chi has been an important figure at UTM and its predecessor, the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM), using a creative approach to education in order to inspire her students. As the Dean of the Institute of Executive and Professional Development (IEPD), Dr. Lam sees a wide horizon of opportunities.
She joined the institution in 2005 and has since held a number of roles. Her own academic path has spanned the globe, with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Queensland, in Australia, a master’s degree from Heriot-Watt University in the United Kingdom, and a PhD jointly awarded by the Catholic University of Portugal and Macao’s University of St. Joseph.
Before assuming her current position, Dr. Lam’s roles at UTM’s predecessor included coordinating the Tourism Retail and Marketing Management programme, and the Chinese-medium programmes. “These different roles gave me opportunities to build connections with the industry in various aspects. As a result, I can bring the most up-to-date business knowledge and skills to my classrooms,” she says.
This year, IFTM underwent a significant transformation, becoming the Macao University of Tourism (UTM), with various units of the institution also reflecting that change. The School of Continuing Education was rebranded as the IEPD.
Dr. Lam says the name ‘Institute of Executive and Professional Development’ aims to convey the fact the unit is not limited to continuing education or leisure courses, but mainly provides professional and vocational training, some leading to internationally-recognised certifications.
“Professional and vocational training are crucial for society’s continued development,” she says. At UTM, such training is regarded as a major route for professionals to acquire new, advanced skills that can contribute to their career development and to innovation across various industries.
The IEPD offers a wide range of courses. It includes training under the long-standing Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System (MORS). The IEPD’s work also covers the Cultural Heritage Specialist Guide Training and Certification Programme for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, developed by UTM experts in collaboration with the UNESCO Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
The IEPD offerings additionally include courses on foreign languages, with a focus on proficiency relevant to the global workplace, as well as courses on information technologies, among other areas.
Dr. Lam highlights the depth of the IEPD’s course portfolio. Another example is courses leading to trainer certification in areas related to health and well-being.
“I hope that through our courses leading to professional qualifications, we can contribute to developing talented people in a number of fields,” she says.
Making accounting engaging
Dr. Lam’s journey as an educator began by chance after years in accounting and finance. She discovered her passion for teaching while conducting a short-term course. “I noticed a job opening at IFTM and decided to give it a try,” she recalls.
For nearly 20 years, Dr. Lam has adopted an activity-based approach to teaching, to ensure even a challenging subject such as accounting is engaging for her students. “Accounting is often unpopular among tourism students, but it is essential,” she says. “Understanding accounting is crucial for any future business endeavour, as it forms the foundation for business operations.”
Dr. Lam employs innovative methods to teach accounting, such as showing movies to illustrate accounting fraud. She collaborates with colleagues across different UTM programmes to create practical, hands-on experiences for students.
One memorable project involved partnering with the Culinary Arts Management programme, to organise a charity barbecue. “Students had to contact sponsors, manage accounts, provide food, and handle all other details. They learned how to reduce costs, market the event, and utilise resources. It was a real-life scenario that provided invaluable lessons,” she says.
In addition to her educational roles, Dr. Lam remains actively engaged in research. Her interests encompass tourism sustainability, tourism products, and corporate social responsibility, among other topics. She has contributed to numerous externally-funded and consultancy projects, ranging from strategic policy development to sustainability in business.
Editor: UTM Public Relations Team
