Introduction

MORS (Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System) is built up with the main objective to upgrade human resources in the tourism industry, through the development of a series of skill standards, training programmes and an assessment scheme for the tourism-related professions.  It was launched in 2001 with the support of the European Union, and was recognised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) with the 2002 PATA Gold Award under the category of "Education and Training".  At the initial stage, it only covered several occupations.  Over the past years, with the joint efforts of the Macao University of Tourism and the local tourism industry, a total of 20 occupational skill standards have been developed:

1. Event Specialist - Intermediate
2. Retail Sales Officer - Intermediate
3. Customer Relations Officer - Elementary
4. Room Attendant - Intermediate*
   Room Attendant - Advanced
5. Front Desk Agent - Intermediate
6. Concierge and Bell Attendant - Elementary
7. Travel Consultant - Elementary
8. Security Officer for Tourism and Gaming Industry - Elementary
9. Floral Designer - Elementary
10. Tea Master - Elementary
11. Bartender - Intermediate
12. Bakery Chef - Elementary
    Bakery Chef - Intermediate
    Bakery Chef - Advanced
13. Pastry Chef - Elementary
    Pastry Chef - Intermediate
    Pastry Chef - Advanced
14. Western Chef - Elementary
    Western Chef - Intermediate
    Western Chef - Advanced
15. Waiter/Waitress (Western Restaurant Service)- Intermediate*
    Waiter/Waitress (Western Restaurant Service) - Advanced
16. Waiter/Waitress (Chinese Restaurant Service)- Intermediate*
    Waiter/Waitress (Chinese Restaurant Service) - Advanced
17. Chinese Chef (Cantonese Cuisine) - Elementary
    Chinese Chef (Cantonese Cuisine) - Intermediate
18. Chinese Chef (Dim Sum) - Elementary
    Chinese Chef (Dim Sum) - Intermediate
19. Barista - Elementary
    Barista - Intermediate
    Barista - Advanced
20. Educational Tour Advisor - Elementary

Key-Players

Key-players in the system are:

1. The Awarding Body
   
   UTM is the only awarding body within the system. It is the designated institution that awards qualifications in the form of a certificate to Approved Assessors for Technical Skills, Approved Trainers for Technical Skills and competent professionals staff. UTM also appoints Training Centres and is responsible for the quality assurance of the programme.
2. Industry partners
   
   Every private and public tourism and hospitality related institution assisting in achieving MORS objectives
3. Assessment Centres
   
   An Assessment Center is a designated institution that develops and conducts courses and workshops for assessors and trainers and conducts assessments of assessors, trainers and professionals staff in all occupations. UTM is at the moment the only Assessment Centre.
4. Approved Assessors for Technical Skills Assessment
   
   An Assessor for Technical Skills is the designated person to assess the required competency of persons at professionals. There are two types of assessors: UTM assessor and industry assessor. When conducting an Technical Skill Assessment, 1 UTM assessor and 1 Industry Assessor for Technical Skills must be present.
   
   To become an industry assessor for Technical Skills, the following conditions will apply:
   1. Hold a certificate of competence
   2. Hold a certificate of Approved Trainer
   3. Attend one professionals assessment as an observer as well as conducting one assessment as co-assessor.
   Other criteria exist to maintain Assessor accreditation, which will be explained by the Awarding Body to those registering on the Assessor programme.
5. Training Centres
   
   A Training Centre is a designated institution that offers training possibilities to people registered in MORS. Two types of training centres have been identified. Industry partners who provide training possibilities to their own staff, and UTM.
   
   To qualify as a MORS Training Centre, the organisation must be able to conduct training in 75% of the tasks and sub-tasks listed in the training manuals. In addition, the Training Centre must employ a minimum of one Approved Trainer to qualify or remain as a Training Centre.
   
   The Awarding Body will conduct a site visit to establish if the applicant is able to conduct the necessary training in an Occupational Skill of the MORS programme.
   
   A Certificate and a sticker will be issued to the company once it has been appointed as Training Centre.
   
   
   
6. Approved Trainers for Technical Skills Training
   
   A trainer is the designated person to train people legally allowed to work in Macao in the MORS occupations. Two types of trainers were defined: UTM trainers who are allowed to conduct training in UTM and industry trainers, who conduct training in the Partner Training Centres.
   
   To become an Approved Trainer, the following conditions will apply:
   1. Hold a certificate of competence
   2. Pass training skills assessment
   3. Three years of relevant working experience including one year at the supervisory level or above or one year of working experience with a higher diploma in hospitality management.
   Other criteria exist to maintain Trainer accreditation, which will be explained by the Awarding Body to those registering on the Trainer programme.
   
   A silver pin and an Approved Trainer certificate will be awarded to the candidate once s/he passes the training skills assessment.
7. Professionals trainees/professionals
   
   Those who are registered are a MORS trainee.
   
   If you have taken necessary training at the Macao University of Tourism or at any other Training Center appointed by UTM, you can apply for an assessment.
   
   A bronze pin and a certificate of competence will be awarded to the trainee once s/he passes the technical skills examination to prove his/her competence in the profession.

*Remarks:
In November 2021, Guangdong Occupational Skill Service and Instruction Center, the Labour Affairs Bureau of Macao SAR Government and Macao University of Tourism signed an agreement on “Collaboration in the Assessment of Skilled Talents in Guangdong and Macao via One-Exam-Multiple-Certificates Scheme of Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System (MORS)”. After alignment, the original MORS Entry Level of the below occupations is equivalent to the Intermediate Level of “One-Exam-Multiple-Certificates” Scheme.

Starting from September 1, 2025, the entry-level MORS (including Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3) for the following job types will be updated to elementary, intermediate, and advanced respectively, as shown below.