A delegation from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) visited the public Macao University of Tourism (UTM) on Wednesday to discuss innovation in tourism education and the further development of co-branded programmes, according to a statement by the tertiary education institution yesterday.
The delegation was led by Antonio López de Ávila, director of Innovation, Education and Investments at UN Tourism, and was received by UTM Rector Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan, Vice Rector Connie Loi Kim Ieng and representatives of academic units, the statement said.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on advancing innovation in tourism education and cultivating international talent, the statement noted, adding that they also discussed extending their co-branded programmes to the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
López de Ávila toured UTM’s teaching facilities and reviewed its academic achievements, congratulating the university on its development progress, the statement said, adding that he expressed interest in the public university’s integration of smart technologies and data analytics into tourism education, describing its approach as one that drives education through innovation while connecting industry through practice.
López da Ávila said he hopes to strengthen cooperation in joint curriculum development, faculty and student exchanges, and international training programmes, according to the statement. Meanwhile, Vong thanked UN Tourism for its longstanding support and said the extension of UTM’s campus into the in-depth cooperation zone will create new opportunities for programme development in the coming academic year, the statement noted, adding that she expressed confidence that this will attract more international students and enhance talent cultivation and exchange.
According to the statement, Vong noted that UTM will continue leveraging its partnership with UN Tourism to share the “Macao experience” in global tourism education. Moreover, the delegation visited UTM’s Mong-Ha and Taipa campuses, including training restaurants, teaching hotels and other practical facilities, and interacted with students to understand the university’s emphasis on integrating theory and practice, the statement said.
The following day, with support from the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the delegation conducted a field visit to learn about the planning and construction of the Hengqin Dezhi Plaza project under the first phase of the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, the statement noted, adding that they were also briefed on the third-phase development site and plans to expand co-branded programmes in the zone.
This handout photo provided by the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) yesterday shows United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) Director of Innovation, Education and Investments Antonio López de Ávila (centre left) and UTM Rector Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan (centre right) with others posing outside the public university’s Educational Restaurant in Mong-Ha on Wednesday.
