A new academic year has started at IFT. The Institute welcomed a new intake of undergraduates at the annual IFT Student Orientation ceremony, held on 22 August in the Convention Hall of the Macao Science Center.
The 487 new students, including exchange students, come from 36 different countries and regions. Many say they were attracted to the Institute by its reputation abroad in the field of education in tourism and hospitality.
One of them is Jono Jiang, who is still finding his way around IFT and Macao. Jono is from Mainland China and is a Year 1 student in the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Event Management programme.
“IFT has good international reputation in the industry,” Jono says. He admires the international outlook of the Institute, which gives its students the chance to do internships abroad and go on international exchange. “I expect to grasp opportunities to go out and see more,” he says.
Another new student is Ramon Fiebiger. Ramon is an undergraduate studying at the Munich University of Applied Sciences, in Germany. He is staying at IFT for 1 semester on exchange, in line with an agreement between IFT and the Munich University of Applied Sciences.
“I am the first student from my university to come to IFT, and this is, as well, my first time to be in Asia,” Ramon says. He is impressed by what he has seen so far at IFT and praises the quality of the teaching. “I am actually thinking about taking my master’s degree here already,” he says.
New student Queenie Chan is a resident of Macao. Queenie is a Year 1 student taking the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Retail and Marketing Management programme. She says she chose the Institute because of its reputation in the field of education in tourism and hospitality. A bachelor’s degree awarded by IFT will open doors for her when she ventures into the labour market, Queenie believes.
The latest ShanghaiRanking Consultancy Global Ranking of Academic Subjects and the QS World University Rankings by Subject both list IFT among the top 5 Asian institutions of higher education in tourism and hospitality. No other institution of higher education in Macao that teaches hospitality and tourism management has a higher rank in either list.
Find your passion
IFT invited 2 alumni of the Institute to the IFT Student Orientation ceremony to recount their experiences since graduation and give insights into the development of the tourism and hospitality industries in Macao. The speakers also talked about their time at the Institute.
“The most important thing for you to do in these 4 years at IFT is for you to find your passion,” IFT alumna Ms. Joanne Lio told the new undergraduates. Ms. Lio is Assistant Director for Reservations of the Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St. Regis Macao hotel.
“If you really cannot find out what you love to do, at least figure out what you don’t like,” she said.
Ms. Lio advised the new students to use all that IFT offers them – ranging from practicum classes to internships to exchange programmes to extracurricular activities – to broaden their horizons.
IFT alumnus Mr. Nyon Lam echoed the call for the new students to make the most of their time at IFT. Mr. Lam manages a boutique in Macao that sells high-end watches made by Roger Dubuis of Switzerland.
“Don’t be afraid to talk to others,” he told the audience. “Just go and talk to students from different countries. You can make friends with all the people.”
Mr. Lam said the ability to communicate well was important for professionals in tourism and hospitality, allowing them to connect with customers and serve them better. “You need to think not only about yourself, but also try to stand in other people’s shoes,” he said.
