Macau University of Science and Technology Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management Alumni Association (hereinafter referred to as the "FHTM Alumni Association ") organized the first visit by the committee members to alumni-owned enterprises in the Greater Bay Area from July 26 to 28. The aim was to strengthen the connections among alumni, promote school-enterprise cooperation, and create more internship and employment opportunities for current students. The delegation, led by Professor Ben K. Goh, Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management and honorary advisor of FHTM Alumni Association, visited several companies founded or led by 12 alumni in Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou over the three-day trip.
Group Photo with Zhongshan Federation of Industry and Commerce
FHTM Alumni Association representatives first visited the Zhongshan Federation of Industry and Commerce, where they were warmly received by the Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of the Zhongshan Municipal Committee and the Secretary of the Party Group of the Zhongshan Federation of Industry and Commerce. The two sides had in-depth discussions on seizing the major opportunities presented by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, and explored ways to deepen exchange and cooperation to promote the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industry. The delegation then visited G-Technologies Co., Ltd., a well-known technology company in Zhongshan. They gained a deeper understanding of the company's development history, R&D capabilities, core technologies, and innovative patents, and experienced the vibrant momentum of Zhongshan's high-quality technological enterprises.
Meeting with Zhongshan Federation of Industry and Commerce
Group Photo with G-Technologies Co., Ltd.
In addition, the delegation also visited AYEARN Hotel, Shenzhen Entrepreneurship Island for Returned International Talents, and Cheerlink Bay. The alumni warmly received the delegation and introduced the current status, industry trends, and future plans of their respective companies in detail.
At the AYEARN Hotel, the General Manager, Gao Boyou, a 2011 graduate of the International of Tourism Management program, gave the delegation a detailed tour. Gao Boyou introduced the hotel's unique operating philosophy, emphasizing how they integrate artificial intelligence and high-quality service elements into hotel design and service to attract more customers. The delegation also visited the hotel apartments - Shenzhen Bay Mansion. Gao Boyou elaborated on how he applied professional knowledge and experience in hotel management to real estate property management, demonstrating the versatility and adaptability of hotel management skills, and providing students with broader career development possibilities.
Group Photo with Gao Boyou at the General Manager of AYEARN Hotel (five from the right)
2015 graduate of Hotel Management program Hu Nanxi introduced the Shenzhen Entrepreneurship Island for Returned International Talents, the first public service platform for overseas returnees in Shenzhen. Since its official establishment in April 2019, it has been dedicated to providing free office space, policy consultation, and resource matching services for overseas returnees, solving the problems of information asymmetry, difficulty in integrating into the domestic environment, and lack of rich social resources, and further driving entrepreneurship and employment to create new momentum for economic development. She stated that the company will continue to actively seek cooperation with the university in related fields to provide more development opportunities for graduates of FHTM.
Group Photo with Hu Nanxi at the Shenzhen Entrepreneurship Island (sixth from the right)
The delegation went to Cheerlink Bay in Guangzhou. The company's founder, 2015 graduate Liu Yangzi, introduced the company's business scope and successful cases in the field of commercial operation services in detail. Liu Yangzi also shared her entrepreneurial experience after graduating from M.U.S.T. and how she transformed the knowledge learned from FHTM into entrepreneurial advantages. She particularly emphasized the opportunities brought by the development of the Greater Bay Area. She pointed out that with the strengthening of interconnection between cities in the Greater Bay Area and the rapid economic development, the demand for professional talents with hotel management background in the field of commercial operation services has surged. This trend provides broad employment prospects and diversified career development paths for graduates of FHTM.
Professor Ben K. Goh presented FHTM Alumni Association Banner to the Founder of Cheerlink Bay, Liu Yangzi (first from the right).
Many alumni expressed that they warmly welcome younger schoolmates to intern or work in their companies, and promised to provide more internship opportunities and employment guidance for current students. Some alumni also proposed suggestions for cooperating with FHTM to develop featured courses and organize industry lectures, hoping to contribute to the development of the alma mater.
During this trip to the Greater Bay Area, FHTM Alumni Association not only arranged company visits, but also carefully organized three meaningful networking events - the Shenzhen Gathering dinner, the Guangzhou Gathering dinner, and the Guangzhou alumni lunch, providing more opportunities for the school and alumni to exchange and interact. Many alumni who attended the dinners said that such gathering formats are rare, which not only expanded their social networks, but also provided new ideas and possibilities for their future career development. Some younger alumni even expressed that they were greatly inspired by directly interacting with their seniors and listening to their experiences, which had a great impact on their career planning.
Professor Ben K. Goh highly praised this visit that the Greater Bay Area trip not only promoted understanding and friendship among alumni, but also built an important communication bridge between the faculty, current students, and the industry. He was very pleased to see that many alumni are playing an important role in the prosperous economic development of the Greater Bay Area, which undoubtedly demonstrates the educational quality of FHTM. Based on the gains of this visit, the faculty will further optimize the curriculum, providing students with more professional knowledge and practical opportunities that align with industry needs.
Mr. David Ao, Chairman of Executive Committee-Elect stated that this initiative by FHTM Alumni Association is of great significance in promoting the close connection between the faculty and the industry. We have not only strengthened the ties between alumni and the alma mater, but also built a good platform for future cooperation among alumni. FHTM Alumni Association will continue to organize similar visit activities, not only limited to the Greater Bay Area, but also gradually expanding to other regions. We look forward to continuously strengthening the alumni network through these activities, promoting experience sharing and resource sharing among alumni, while also contributing to the development of the alma mater.
The visiting delegation included Prof. Wong Weng Chou, Assistant Dean of FHTM and Vice Chairman of Executive Committee of FHTM Alumni Association, Dr. Yang Chieh-Yun and Dr. Feng Yan, Program Director of FHTM, Mr. Ao Ka Wai, Chairman of Executive Committee-Elect of FHTM Alumni Association, Ms. Ou Zhongying, Secretary of General Assembly of FHTM Alumni Association, Ms. Wang Ying, Vice Chairman of General Assembly of FHTM Alumni Association, Mr. Li Sui Nan, Mr. Huang Jiamao and Ms. Li Wanzhen, Vice Chairman of Executive Committee of FHTM Alumni Association, Ms. Chan Chong Lam, Vice Chairman of Supervisory Board of FHTM Alumni Association, Mr. Choi Kit Po, Member of Executive Committee of FHTM Alumni Association and alumni Guo Yulan.
In the future, FHTM Alumni Association will continue to strengthen connections with alumni in the Greater Bay Area and globally, regularly organize similar activities, and build more exchange platforms for alumni, the faculty, and the industry, jointly promoting the development of tourism education in Macao.
