IFTM greeted at the Institute’s annual Student Orientation Ceremony, held on 20 August, its latest intake of students. As a precautionary measure against the risk of COVID-19 infection, the event was held in online format.
The Institute is welcoming a total of 490 new students for academic year 2021/2022, for either undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
During the Student Orientation Ceremony, IFTM President Dr. Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan said the world economy – and particularly the tourism and hospitality sector – was “undergoing massive transformation”, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. “These same changes that might worry you, have already fleshed out numerous new career opportunities, with tourism and hospitality among the main beneficiaries,” she noted.
Dr. Vong highlighted that COVID-19 was underpinning a new era for ‘smart tourism’, linking traditional tourism with new technology. “We at IFTM are swiftly working to adapt and respond to the various paradigm shifts in the industry, so as to equip students with knowledge and capabilities for a future where technology and tourism will be increasingly intertwined,” she said.
“Starting higher education studies while the pandemic is still active worldwide, can be seen as daunting,” continued Dr. Vong. “But it also means that you have a ground-breaking opportunity – like few others before you – to determine the direction, the narrative and the outcome of your education,” she added.
A video of a national flag raising ceremony was played during the first part of the Student Orientation Ceremony.
Plenty of novelties
In the new academic year, IFTM is welcoming the first intake for the revamped Heritage Management Bachelor’s Degree Programme. In addition to acquiring cultural heritage conservation knowledge, students will also study elements in the field of cultural and creative industries. The aim is to enable them to broaden their horizons and widen their career options.
IFTM is launching this academic year a postgraduate programme leading to a Master of Science in International Gastronomy Management. It aims to nurture highly-skilled talent, contributing to Macao’s role as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Several facilities at the Institute have recently been revamped, to improve further IFTM’s study environment. On the Mong-Há Campus, a major refurbishment of the Pousada de Mong-Há has been completed. The public areas of the Student Hostel, at the Taipa Campus, have been renovated, to optimise space available for student leisure and interaction.
In addition, IFTM’s iRetail Lab was officially opened in June. It is a training platform for practical education in the fields of retailing and marketing management.
