The start of a new academic year is a special time. On behalf of the team at the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies, it is my great pleasure to welcome a new intake of undergraduates and postgraduate students.
At IFTM, students have access to education that is respected domestically and internationally. The latest accolade for the Institute – announced last month – is its position as the first higher education institution worldwide to secure reaccreditation from the U.K.’s Quality Assurance Agency under the latter’s stringent “International Quality Review” process.
IFTM is consistently rated among the best higher education institutions in the world in hospitality and leisure management. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022, the Institute is 23rd worldwide in this field – a jump of 7 places from 2021 –, being ranked first in Macao, and third in Asia as a whole.
IFTM’s unique positioning means students have access to a deep pool of exclusive opportunities, including exchange and internship programmes outside Macao, allowing them to be exposed to new ideas, and to broaden their horizons. In supporting students to make the most of what IFTM has to offer, the Institute makes it possible to access a wide array of fellowships, scholarships, and other grants.
To keep itself at the forefront of tourism and hospitality education, IFTM continues to innovate in terms of its educational offering, while regularly reviewing its programmes to ensure they are aligned with the needs of the industry and society. The Institute is introducing this academic year a Master’s Degree Programme in Smart Technologies in Hospitality and Tourism, to help train a new generation of management talent that can understand the importance of applying technology in tourism.
IFTM is also deeply involved in efforts to advance tourism training and education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. That includes the establishment of several training centres in Guangdong Province, in particular on the neighbouring Hengqin Island, as well as promotion of competitions and other initiatives targeted at higher education students.
This is not all. At IFTM, new students can discover 2 campuses that are teeming with activities – student clubs, exhibitions, performances, community service programmes, and much more. The Institute is home to a lively and diverse community, where all the staff are committed to providing students with meaningful and deep learning experiences.
I am convinced that IFTM is continuing to take the right steps to move forward, to grow and grasp new opportunities. My main task as President of IFTM is to ensure all new students find their time at the Institute an immensely rewarding experience, and that they have access to the best-possible educational environment.
