The 2017 “Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System” (MORS) Gold Pin Competition Award Presentation Ceremony was held today at the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT). Ms. Ng Wai Han, Deputy Director of Labour Affairs Bureau, Mr. Chong Cheok Ip, Acting Head of Licensing and Inspections Department of Macao Government Tourism Office, Mr. William Visser, General Manager of Grand Lisboa Hotel, Mr. Chan Chak Mo, President of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao and Mr. Lei Pou Loi, President of Macao Hotel Employees Association presented awards to the winners.
This year marks the 16th year for IFT to organise this competition, attracting 333 participants from 38 organisations to take part in 10 sessions of competitions, including Assistant Cook (Western Kitchen), Bartender, Chinese Cook – Cantonese Cuisine (Intermediate level), Chinese Cook - Dim Sum (Intermediate Level), Concierge and Bell Attendant, Front Desk Agent/Customer Relations Officer, Security Officer for Tourism and Gaming Industry, Room Attendant, Waiter/Waitress (Chinese Restaurant Service) and Waiter/Waitress (Western Restaurant Service). The final round of the competitions was held on 28 November and 1 December at IFT and Grand Lisboa Hotel respectively.
During the ceremony, Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT said that IFT’s Tourism and Hotel School has been providing a wide range of professional training courses including MORS training and assessment. Macao’s local industry has been supporting their staff to participate in MORS training and assessment, which has become the standard to evaluate local workers, in order to ensure the service quality of local tourism, enhance the competitiveness of the city, and promote Macao as the tourism destination with high quality of service. She stressed that Macao was designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy last month, showing the international recognition given to the local food and beverage sector. IFT has been committed to professional training in food and beverage. Various types and levels of food and beverage courses have been offered to industry professionals for many years, allowing them to enhance their professional knowledge and skills, as well as to cope with the development of the industry. In 2016/17 academic year, 3,090 participants joined the food and beverage related training including MORS training, which set the service standards for local food and beverage professionals.
The competition adapted a process of elimination, with 3 rounds of contests for each competition. The first 2 rounds of contests were held in forms of written examination and skill evaluation according to the fundamental knowledge covered in the MORS training manuals. Participants without MORS certificates needed to go through the first round. In order to be admitted to the second round, the contestants must reach a minimum score of 75%, and compete with those who possess the certificate. Contestants with excellent performances in the second round from each competition are eligible to join the final and given the certificates.
Contestants aimed at the 2 winning positions in each competition. Juries formed by over 30 respectful executives from the industry observed closely and assessed the contestants for the final winners. Winners would receive a MORS Gold Pin, MOP8,000 cash award and a scholarship of MOP2,000 for Tourism and Hotel School’s training courses.