The 2019 “Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System” (MORS) Gold Pin Competition Award Presentation Ceremony was held today at the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM). Mr. Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director of Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms. Cheung Wai, Head of Vocational Training Department of the Labour Affairs Bureau, Mr. Kris Kaminsky, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations of the Venetian® Macao, Mr. Lei Pou Loi, President of Macao Hotel Employees Association presented awards to the winners.
This year marks the 17th year for IFTM to organise this competition, attracting 354 participants from 37 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 2 December at Conrad Macao, Sands Cotai Central and IFTM respectively.
During the ceremony, Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFTM said that IFTM’s School of Continuing Education 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, so as to enhance the competitiveness of the city, and promote Macao as the tourism destination with high quality of service. The School has also been actively introducing and promoting the MORS training and assessment in the Greater Bay Area, with an aim to enhance its tourism service quality.
With Macao being named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, IFTM has been committed to offering diversified professional trainings in food and beverage at different levels, allowing industry professionals and people of different backgrounds and experience to enhance their professional knowledge and skills to cope with the development of the industry. In 2018/19 academic year, 1,997 participants joined around 100 food and beverage related training including MORS training, which set the service standards for local food and beverage professionals.
MORS 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 School of Continuing Education’s training courses.
Launched in 2001, MORS is a joint effort of the tourism industry of Macao and IFTM with the main objective to upgrade human resources in the industry through the introduction of a certification scheme for a number of professions. At this moment, skills standards are introduced for the following occupations:
- Assistant Cook (Western Kitchen)
- Bartender
- Chinese Cook – Cantonese Cuisine (Elementary)
- Chinese Cook – Cantonese Cuisine (Intermediate)
- Chinese Cook – Cantonese Dim Sum (Elementary)
- Chinese Cook – Cantonese Dim Sum (Intermediate)
- Concierge and Bell Attendant
- Customer Relations Officer
- Floral Designer
- Front Desk Agent
- Retail Sales Officer
- Room Attendant
- Security Officer for Tourism and Gaming Industry
- Travel Consultant
- Waiter / Waitress (Chinese Restaurant Service)
- Waiter / Waitress (Western Restaurant Service)
- Western Pastry and Bakery Chef
To reward and demonstrate outstanding MORS recognised professionals, IFTM has been organising the Gold Pin Competition since 2002.