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Tag: Macao

UTM-UEM Talent Development Programme

Posted on by UTM_Macao

On 3 September 2026, the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) held the Inauguration Ceremony of the UTM-UEM Talent Development Programme at the First Phase of the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, marking a new milestone in the partnership between UTM and Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) of Mozambique. The ceremony was graced by Dr Connie Loi, Acting Rector of UTM, and Prof. Dr Manuel Guilherme Júnior, Rector of UEM.

 

Founded in 1962, UEM is located in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. It is the country’s largest public university, offering more than 200 degree programmes covering a wide range of fields including humanities, science, engineering, law, medicine, social sciences, and economics, with more than 48,000 students enrolled.

 

The partnership between UTM and UEM dates back to 1998, when the two institutions signed their first cooperation agreement. Building on the consensus reached during the visit of the UEM delegation at UTM in 2023, both institutions signed a new cooperation agreement in April 2024 and jointly forged the UTM-UEM Talent Development Programme.

 

Under the Framework of the Programme, UTM has admitted three faculty members from UEM into its Master’s degree programmes and submitted nominations to Macao Foundation’s “Scholarship for International Postgraduate Students Pursuing Further Studies in Macao”, to support the professional development of UEM’s faculty. In addition, UTM has admitted one Mozambican student, who met the admission requirements and was recommended by UEM, into its Bachelor’s degree programme.

 

In her opening remarks, Dr Connie Loi stated that the Programme “embodies our shared belief that education is the most sustainable form of cooperation, and that investing in people is investing in the future.” She also highlighted that UTM is stepping up its international promotion efforts to attract more overseas students, to further enrich the diversity of its campus and strengthen its position as a hub for international education. The ceremony was followed by a guest lecture delivered by Rector Prof. Dr Manuel Guilherme Júnior, sharing insights on the cultural and tourism development of Portuguese-speaking countries, using Mozambique as a case study.

 

To proactively align with the National “15th Five-Year Plan,” UTM continues to highlight Macao’s role as a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure”, a “Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries,” and an “Exchange and Cooperation Base with Chinese Culture as the Mainstream and Multicultural Coexistence,” as well as to promote the integration of Macao and Hengqin.

 

The event, held at UTM’s new campus within the First Phase of the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, with the participation of the faculty members and students from the three local public universities, reflects the synergy of the University Town as well as Macao’s continuing role as a platform connecting Mainland China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and underscores UTM’s commitment to fostering people-to-people ties and academic cooperation across the Lusophone world.

A delegation from UN Tourism visits UTM

Posted on by QS Editorial

On 25 February, a delegation led by Mr. Antonio López de Ávila, Director of Innovation, Education and Investments at UN Tourism, visited the Macao University of Tourism (UTM). The delegation was warmly received by Rector Dr. Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan, Vice Rector Dr. Connie Loi Kim Ieng, and representatives of relevant academic units. The two sides discussed innovation in tourism education and the cultivation of international talent, and held in-depth exchanges on further extending their co-branded programmes to the Guangdong–Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

During the visit, Director Mr. López de Ávila toured UTM’s teaching facilities and reviewed its academic achievements, congratulating the University on its development accomplishments. He expressed particular interest in UTM’s efforts to integrate smart technologies and data analytics into tourism education, noting that the University demonstrates a distinctive approach of “driving education through innovation and connecting industry through practice”. He expressed his expectation that both sides would pursue deeper cooperation in areas such as joint curriculum development, faculty and student exchanges, and international training programmes. Looking ahead, through the collaborative platform established between UN Tourism and UTM, Macao’s practical experience can be shared with more developing countries and regions, jointly enhancing the overall standards of global tourism education.

Rector Dr. Fanny Vong thanked UN Tourism for its longstanding support and recognition of UTM. She noted that, with the University’s campus extending into the Cooperation Zone, the new academic year will bring further opportunities for the development of the co-branded programmes. She expressed confidence that this will attract more international students and further strengthen talent cultivation and international exchange. At the same time, she looked forward to leveraging the geographical advantages of the Cooperation Zone to deepen collaboration with industry partners and international stakeholders. Rector Vong emphasised that UTM will continue to build on its partnership with UN Tourism to contribute the “Macao experience” to global tourism education and to nurture more professionals equipped with international perspectives, innovative thinking and a strong sense of social responsibility.

The delegation subsequently visited the Mong-Há and Taipa campuses, touring the training restaurant, two teaching hotels and various practical training facilities, and interacting with students to gain a deeper understanding of the University’s education model, which places “equal emphasis on theory and practice”.

On the following day, with the support of the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong–Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the two sides conducted a field visit to learn in detail about the planning and construction progress of the Hengqin Dezhi Plaza project under first phase of the Macao–Hengqin International Education (University) Town. They were also briefed on the planning of the third phase development site and the plan to extend co-branded programmes to the Cooperation Zone.

　

UTM and UN Tourism have maintained cooperation for over a decade. Through co-branded programmes, specialised training, internship schemes and other initiatives, both parties have continued to build international learning platforms and professional networks for faculty members, students and industry practitioners, jointly promoting innovation and high-quality development in global tourism education.