{"id":11600,"date":"2024-05-29T17:48:39","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T09:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/?p=11600"},"modified":"2024-05-29T18:04:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T10:04:48","slug":"talent-without-borders-meet-adante-and-cathy-who-travelled-halfway-around-the-world-to-study-at-utm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/talent-without-borders-meet-adante-and-cathy-who-travelled-halfway-around-the-world-to-study-at-utm\/","title":{"rendered":"<strong>Talent without borders: meet Adante and Cathy, who travelled halfway around the world to study at UTM<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-11600 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-herald-lay-a-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"herald-popup\" href='https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed.png'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"990\" height=\"661\" src=\"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed.png\" class=\"attachment-herald-lay-a-full size-herald-lay-a-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-11604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed.png 990w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-768x513.png 768w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-414x276.png 414w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-470x313.png 470w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-640x426.png 640w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-130x86.png 130w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-187x124.png 187w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-11604'>\n\t\t\t\tStudent Adante Brian George (standing, first from right) says his experience at UTM has been \u201ctransformative\u201d\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"herald-popup\" href='https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1.png'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"990\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1.png\" class=\"attachment-herald-lay-a-full size-herald-lay-a-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-11603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1.png 990w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1-414x276.png 414w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1-470x313.png 470w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1-640x426.png 640w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1-130x86.png 130w, https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-1-187x124.png 187w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-11603'>\n\t\t\t\tCatherine Nkatha Thuranira was among the UTM students providing service support for the gala dinner of the 6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<span class='pum-trigger  popmake-11606  text-center font-blue' data-do-default=''>\u4e2d\u6587\u6458\u8981 \/ Summary in Chinese<\/span>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em>The quality of education at UTM attracts people not only from Macao and the rest of Asia but also from other continents. The University uses Macao\u2019s platform role within China\u2019s \u2018Belt and Road\u2019 initiative to welcome foreign students and contribute on people-to-people exchanges at international level<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Circa 15,500 kilometres: the distance from the British Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean, to Macao. That is how far UTM student Adante Brian George is from home. He enrolled at the University last summer on the Tourism Retail and Marketing Management Bachelor\u2019s Degree Programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adante is not the only undergraduate at UTM from a far-flung place. Catherine Nkatha Thuranira left her home nation of Kenya in Africa, last summer, to study for a bachelor\u2019s degree in Hotel Management at UTM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adante and Catherine are recipients of scholarships from UTM, covering their tuition expenses. This aligns with the University\u2019s aim of contributing to the goals of the \u2018Belt and Road\u2019 initiative, as proposed by President Xi Jinping. These include increasing international exchanges and stimulating common development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The welcoming of foreign students at UTM highlights Macao\u2019s unique positioning and contributions to the \u2018Belt and Road\u2019 initiative, particularly as a platform promoting people-to-people exchanges. Additionally, it helps foster cooperation in education and training between China and other countries participating in the initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UTM stood out for \u201cits reputation for academic rigour and its strategic location\u201d in terms of Macao\u2019s geography, making the University \u201cthe perfect choice for my academic journey,\u201d says Adante.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adante is passionate about exploring different cultures and understanding the complexities of the global tourism industry. Therefore, Macao\u2019s unique blend of Portuguese culture and Chinese culture, coupled with its status as a global tourism hub, instantly captured his interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Almost one year into his studies at the University, the foreign student says the experience has been \u201cnothing short of transformative\u201d. He praises UTM\u2019s \u201cvibrant campus life\u201d and the friendships he has developed with local and international students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOf course, the journey hasn&#8217;t been without challenges,\u201d he admits. \u201cAdapting to a new academic environment and overcoming language barriers tested my resilience, but these experiences have ultimately shaped me into a more adaptable and culturally sensitive individual,\u201d says Adante.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAdditionally, actively seeking out resources such as academic support services and mentorship programmes\u00a0has been instrumental in my academic success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Echoing the overall purposes of the \u2018Belt and Road\u2019 initiative, Adante hopes to use the knowledge and skills he is learning at UTM to \u201cmake meaningful contributions to the global tourism landscape\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He is confident that UTM&#8217;s comprehensive curriculum and industry connections will continue to support him in achieving his goals and aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>From vibrant Kenya to buzzling Macao<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Catherine \u2013 known as Cathy at UTM \u2013 also reports her time so far at the University has been \u201ctransformative\u201d and \u201cinspiring\u201d. She is senior in age to Adante, and thankful for the opportunity to return to formal education and refresh her knowledge and skills, particularly in the rapidly-advancing field of hospitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLife\u2019s commitments and my professional work in Kenya kept pushing that dream to the back burner,\u201d she says. \u201cWith determination fuelling my actions, I decided to pause my professional life to wholeheartedly pursue higher education. I boldly decided to study abroad, believing that immersing myself in a new environment would help me dedicate my full attention to my studies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her academic adventure began in Malaysia, where she studied for a year. Her family then suggested she apply to UTM. The University \u201cturned out to be a superior choice\u201d, providing her with an opportunity to immerse herself into her chosen field of study, says Cathy. She stresses the importance of the scholarship from UTM to overcome financial constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, the support from the University is, in Cathy\u2019s words, \u201ccommendable\u201d. The faculty members \u201care not only experts in their respective fields but are also genuinely invested in the success of their students,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom the moment I set foot on campus, I was impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment,\u201d Cathy comments. \u201cBeing a student at UTM has opened up a myriad of opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In April, she was among the UTM students providing service support for the gala dinner of the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macau). The event involved a number of top government officials and other representatives from China as well as from Lusophone countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis experience was nothing short of an eye-opener, teaching me how to present myself and work effectively in high-stakes situations,\u201d Cathy says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She hopes her story as an adult student \u201cserves as a beacon of encouragement\u201d to anyone considering furthering their education, despite their age. \u201cIt is never too late to pursue your dreams, and with dedication and the right support, anything is possible,\u201d says Cathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Editor: UTM Public Relations Team<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The quality of education at UTM attracts people not only from Macao and the rest of Asia but also from other continents. The University uses Macao\u2019s platform role within China\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":11602,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2322,136],"tags":[1636,3050,258,3049,400,2861,3052,2859,3051],"class_list":["post-11600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bachelor-degrees","category-main_headline","tag-belt-and-road","tag-british-virgin-islands","tag-international-students","tag-kenya","tag-macao","tag-macao-university-of-tourism","tag-people-to-people-exchanges","tag-utm","tag-xi-jinping","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"views":201,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11600"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11611,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11600\/revisions\/11611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}