Macao is positioned as the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, with tourism as a pillar industry. The Macao University of Tourism (UTM) has always emphasised international development and is committed to cultivating inter-disciplinary talents for Macao. The curriculum of UTM is aligned with international standards and reaches internationally recognised professional levels. Through classroom teaching, practical projects, internships, and global exchange activities, the University provides students with a rich learning environment and internationalised educational conditions, helping them succeed in a globalised environment.
Language advantage is the key to unlocking opportunities for studying abroad
Hotel Management is a flagship programme of UTM. Sophia Yang Yingqi, a 2022 graduate, is currently pursuing further studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Reflecting on her four years at UTM, she highlighted the exchange programmes offered by UTM in collaboration with institutions from various regions. During her studies at UTM, she met exchange students from Italy, South Korea, and other countries, and was taught by faculty members from places like Canada and Australia. Her interactions with them fostered her international mindset.
Language is a tool for communication, and the greatest achievement Sophia gained during her four years at UTM was developing strong English communication skills. UTM has been dedicated to creating an all-English learning environment and campus life for students enrolled in the English-language streams. In addition to using English as the medium of instruction, students also use English for their classroom assignments and presentations, competitions, as well as for conversation and communication with classmates and faculty members, effectively cultivating their cross-cultural communication skills. In particular, the on-campus English Centre provides tutoring to support students in need of improving their English proficiency quickly, especially in areas such as writing theses and completing assignments. Thanks to the language advantage developed over her four years at UTM, it has given her the confidence and ability to pursue further studies abroad, achieving her current success.
The curriculum at UTM combines theory with practice. During her internship in the third year, Sophia had the opportunity to work in the public relations department of a large-scale hotel in Macao. This experience made her enjoy the hotel work environment, sparking a stronger interest and motivating her to set a goal to pursue a career in this field. Currently studying Communications, she hopes to integrate the knowledge from her undergraduate degree in Hotel Management programme and embark on a career in hotel marketing or public relations in the future, gradually advancing her career planning.
Studying at Dream School in Switzerland
Sisi Wang Gege also graduated from the Hotel Management programme in 2022. In her third year of university, she had the opportunity to study at a British institution as an exchange student, but it was cancelled due to the pandemic. Since then, the desire to study abroad has taken root in her heart. During her university years, she became familiar with Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland, a partner of UTM, which led her to pursue further studies there after graduation. She completed a master’s degree in Hospitality Strategic Management and Digital Transformation and is currently working in real estate development and investment in Switzerland.
Starting in 2023, UTM launched a “3+1” dual bachelor’s degree programme in partnership with several top institutions in Switzerland, including Les Roches. Sisi would like to encourage her fellow juniors who are interested in studying abroad to submit their applications. She recalls the time when the “3+1” programme was not yet launched back then, and now she is glad to see her alma maters building a closer partnership, providing students with more opportunities to broaden their international perspectives.
She believes that the high level of internationalisation and global recognition of the programmes at UTM contributed to her smooth progression to further studies. The hotel management programmes at Swiss institutions rank among the best in the world. Graduates from UTM can pursue further studies at renowned Swiss institutions without needing to take additional courses or obtain other certifications. In fact, due to her excellent performance at UTM, she was awarded a scholarship from Les Roches. During their time at UTM, students also have opportunities from time to time for exchanges abroad and visits to star-rated hotels. This allows them to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the hotel management major and industry, which benefits their future development.
The mission of UTM is to become a leading higher education institution that provides internationalised education in tourism and service industry studies. Sisi pointed out that the curriculum of UTM aligns with international standards, facilitating future academic transitions and adaptability to learning. Additionally, UTM gathers faculty members from around the world, many of whom have relevant work experience and are eager to share their practical hotel experiences and international insights with students. Summarising her four years at UTM, Sisi believes that the curriculum is highly applicable, allowing her to translate her learning into real-world applications and facilitating her further studies abroad. It has provided her with a solid foundation in both theory and practice that can be applied in various fields, offering a wide range of career opportunities.