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Field Trip to the Old House Gallery Connects IFTM Students to Classroom Concepts

中文摘要 / Summary in Chinese

On 16 March 2023, two groups of undergraduate IFTM students from Year 1 and Year 2 embarked on a learning field trip to the Old House Gallery as part of their Introduction to Business Management course. IFTM Adjunct Instructor, Mr. Peta Ho, organised the event for students to gain experience from a real-life case and to look into how theoretical knowledge can be applied in real examples.

Founded in 1993 and is located right next to the Ruins of St. Paul’s, the Old House Gallery is currently the largest private art centre in Macao. It specialises in collecting Chinese works of art, emphasising on antique furniture, ceramics, bronzes, jades, Buddha statues and paintings. With an aim to enrich the collections of art lovers worldwide, the gallery also stands as an interactive platform for them to share a common interest in art pieces.

Ms. Catherine Fong, General Manager of Old House Gallery, graciously hosted the two groups of students and provided an insightful guest lecture on her role in managing the gallery, their business structure and how she operates on a daily basis. She emphasised the importance of balancing business management principles with preserving and promoting cultural heritage. Ms. Fong also guided the students on a comprehensive tour of the gallery, sharing fascinating stories and insights on gallery management, allowing students to have a bigger picture of running a gallery.

During the tour, students had the opportunity to closely examine various art pieces and artifacts, gaining a deeper understanding of the connection between business management and cultural heritage preservation. With most of the students studying in the Cultural and Heritage Management programme, the hands-on experience allowed them to apply the theoretical knowledge they acquired in the classroom to real-life content.

CEO, Mr. Fong Lin Wa and Art Director, Mr. Calvin Fong, gave a warm welcome to the students and, at the same time, appreciated the valuable experience for both parties. Besides, IFTM Adjunct Instructor, Mr. Ho expressed his gratitude towards the entire management team and Old House Gallery for facilitating this practical learning experience and providing students with opportunities to build and explore their interests in the field. He was pleased to have Old House Gallery as a partner for this field trip, and he thinks the visit and sharing have inspired the participating students and have undoubtedly enriched the students’ understanding of cultural heritage management in a business context.