The public Macao University of Tourism Studies (UTM) is aiming to expand its student intake for the 2026-2027 academic year, with the expected number in total enrolment being around 1,300 students, Rector Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan told reporters on the sidelines of the tertiary education institution’s Open Day on its Taipa Campus on Avenida Padre Tomás Pereira (徐日昇寅公馬路) yesterday.
Vong told reporters that the expected figure was much more than UTM’s total student intake of 952 the previous academic year.
Vong also highlighted that UTM is hoping to “infuse more technology and smartness” into its programmes in the coming academic year to provide students with the skills needed to navigate emerging challenges and issues in the tourism industry, which is increasingly affected by technology.
“Whether we are creating new programmes or revamping old programmes, we are aware that we need students to be well-versed in not only the traditional tourism and hospitality world, but also how to apply AI or apply different smart technologies into their real-life work setting in the future in this industry”, Vong said, adding that it will be launching a new MBA (Master of Business Administration) programme and the Bachelor of Science in Management and Data Science.
Vong said that the new MBA will help students focus on the tourism sector and apply new management and AI enhanced management skills in the tourism industry.
The Data Science and Management Course, meanwhile, is particularly important, hoping to equip students with tools to analyse the trends and new issues in the fast-changing tourism industry. “We see a lot of contactless operations. We see a lot of other technology being implemented in the hotel setting, the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) area and tourism operations. But we want students to have an understanding of how they should, as a part of this industry growth, manage skills and tools as well as not forget how to maintain human warmth and touch throughout this process.”
Meanwhile, regarding the new campus at Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, which is slated for completion in 2030, Vong told the Post: “The first phase is to have a temporary teaching facility in Dezhi Plaza. This is being smoothly done on the way”, while renovation and some touch-up work are “being done as we speak”.
Vong added: “For the universities ourselves, we have already arranged or prepared programmes to be delivered there”, having arranged some 30 faculty members to be in charge of programmes to be delivered in Hengqin.
Moreover, recruitment of students is still ongoing, Vong said, noting: “In the recruitment announcement we have already specified that some of these programmes will be delivered in both campuses [Macau and Hengqin]… We are preparing the parents and students to understand this new move. We are also preparing our own faculty [members] to deliver programmes over there”, Vong concluded.
Yesterday’s Open Day featured a variety of activities, including games, workshops and discussion sessions, along with booths providing programme and admission information for prospective students and other members of the public.
Macao University of Tourism (UTM) Rector Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan speaks with reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s 2026 Open Day on the UTM Taipa Campus. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
Students and other members of the public explore some of the booths set up on the UTM Taipa Campus.
