The latest group of IFT graduates has been recognised at the Institute’s Graduation Ceremony 2019. The event was held on 30 May at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion. Either a bachelor’s degree or a diploma was conferred upon a total of 355 IFT graduates.
Macao’s Chief Executive, Dr. Chui Sai On, presided over the ceremony, delivering a congratulatory speech to the fresh graduates. Dr. Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, was also in attendance.
Dr. Chui said the Macao SAR Government would continue to support IFT as it upheld its commitments to train qualified human resources to work in the tourism and hospitality sectors. He added that fresh talent had a significant role to play in driving forward Macao’s strategy to transform itself into a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure”, and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies). That, in turn, would promote further the development of the country’s “Belt and Road” initiative, and its Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area project, Dr. Chui stated.
During the ceremony, IFT President Dr. Fanny Vong congratulated the new IFT graduates. She noted the Institute would be launching its first postgraduate programmes – at diploma, master’s degree and PhD level – in academic year 2019/20, offering alumni an opportunity to further their studies at IFT.
Dr. Vong said that IFT would continue to provide innovative curriculums with equal emphasis on theory and practice, as well as to cultivate highly-skilled professionals equipped with research competences, in order to drive tourism-sector growth in Macao and to contribute to the Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area initiatives.
A stellar year for IFT
In academic year 2018/19, IFT was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Alliance for Developing Macao into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Tourism Education and Training Base.
The Alliance is a Macao-based coalition, bringing together 3 government bodies and 10 local higher education institutions, including IFT. The goal of the Alliance is to support Macao’s development as a base for tourism education and training for the Greater Bay Area, as envisioned by the Central Government.
IFT also signed in academic year 2018/19 a memorandum of cooperation with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Sun Yat-sen University, for the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Tourism Research Alliance. The 3 higher education institutions – based respectively in Macao, Hong Kong and Guangdong Province – aim jointly to work on research related to tourism development in the Greater Bay Area.
“IFT has always attached great importance to the development of its international network,” said Dr. Vong during her speech. She noted that the number of exchange students studying at IFT in the 2018/19 academic year represented a 20-percent increase on the prior academic year. The Institute had also continued widening the range of its international partners: in February, it had signed a cooperation agreement with Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia to promote exchanges of students and staff.
A bright future
Sakura Un, a fresh Tourism Event Management graduate, was one of those attending the ceremony. She says she is grateful to IFT and its faculty team for the quality education she received at the Institute.
“The past 4 years have been rewarding,” says Sakura. “IFT has offered tremendous learning opportunities to us, regarding theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and from overseas exchange and summer programmes to internships. It is a well-rounded curriculum.”
During her studies at IFT, Sakura took part in a summer programme in Portugal where she learned more about Portuguese cuisine and the country’s wines. She says the programme was a valuable educational experience, as she plans to be involved in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector.
Evening student Felix Lei received at the IFT Graduation Ceremony 2019 the degree of Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management. He is currently working in a management-level position at an integrated resort company in Macao.
He says the programme helped him consolidate the knowledge and skills he acquired over time while working in the hotel industry. “The programme opens up a new way of thinking. It inspired me to see my job from a new perspective.” That, he adds, would play a positive part in his further career development.
