A delegation comprising teachers and students from IFTM conducted an exchange excursion to Guangdong Ocean University (GDOU) from 6 to 10 April 2023, aiming at cultivating patriotism through marine literacy.
Officially referred to as the “2023 Guangdong-Macao Youth Student Exchange Camp” and led by two tourism management teachers and 23 undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines, the excursion targeted promoting the culture of the Maritime Silk Road and caring for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The excursion is the first of its kind, targeting the Maritime Silk Road between the two institutions. After visiting Yangjiang, Zhanjiang, and Leizhou, participating students were expected to further understand the history, culture, and customs of the Greater Bay Area.
Upon the IFTM excursion’s arrival at GDOU, an opening ceremony was held, where IFTM President, Dr. Fanny Vong, sincerely thanked GDOU for the hearty arrangement on the excursion. She further pointed out that the two institutions are both members of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance, under which efforts are exerted to foster inter-local student interactions, cooperation in talent cultivation, and upcoming generations of patriotism, international horizons, and global competitiveness. Moreover, Dr. Vong encouraged students to contribute to national development with innovative minds, far-reaching visions, and open-mindedness.
On the same occasion, Vice Principal Gao Xiumei of GDOU welcomed the IFTM delegation. She expressed her hope that the excursion would help in the realisation of the vision of the “Greater Bay Area of humanity”, through escalating emotional ties between students from the two institutions, the sensual understanding the culture of the Greater Bay Area, and the internal momentum toward cultural integrations.
Students and teachers from the two institutions also saw an abundance of opportunities to convey their positive thoughts on Guangdong-Macao integration and the development of the Greater Bay Area. For example, students disclosed their hopes for similar exchange excursions in the future, where they would be able to conduct pragmatic and practical learning and research, transforming their theoretical knowledge into real-life experiences. Similar excursions, they added, will help them clarify their understanding of the industry and will be beneficial to their future academic and career planning.
At the closing ceremony, Dean Li Li GDOU’s Business School at the Yangjiang campus, Director Chen Jinyun of GDOU’s Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office, and Deputy Director Zhang Jiexin of the GDOU Management Committee at the Yangjiang campus extended on behalf of the university an invitation to IFTM for further exchange and education opportunities in the professional arena.
The closing ceremony also saw Deputy Director Zhang confer upon students in the delegation Certificates of Participation in recognition of the input and efforts presented at the excursion towards the pursuit of better knowledge. The executives of the university also expressed their appreciation and respect for IFTM for its attainment of international recognition over the years.
It is noteworthy that IFTM is the Tourism Education and Training Base for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and has established five cooperation centres and training bases across the area to nurture professionals for the tourism industry. Even before attaining Asia’s top higher education institution in the subject of Hospitality and Leisure Management on the QS World University ranking in 2023, IFTM had long provided ample exchange opportunities for its aspiring students.
Precisely speaking, the institute has nearly 170 partners around the world, equating to internships, pursuit of education, and academic exchange opportunities at over 750 entities. In addition, IFTM also joins hands with renowned institutions in Switzerland and Australia to provide “3+1” Double Bachelor’s and “1+1” Double Master’s Degrees.
