The 2023 Alumni Gathering with the theme “Solar Stellar” of the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management was successfully held on the afternoon of April 15, 2023. “Solar Stellar” was chosen to represent the reunion theme of the gathering, with the goal of uniting alumni and encouraging communication.
Prof. Li MIAO, Head of the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management, welcomed the alumni on behalf of the Department and briefly introduced the Department’s development status. The host then led the professors, alumni, and students to involve through well-planned activities such as ice-breaker games, BINGO, DASH GAME and so on. Alumni also took this rare opportunity to share their precious recollections. Graduates also shared their experiences in the hospitality and tourism industries with current students at the alumni sharing session. The participating professors and students expressed their gratitude for this reunion opportunity, and the gathering further encouraged alumni to excel in their current roles. The successful holding of the Alumni Gathering has received wide praise.
It is worth mentioning that the Alumni Gathering was co-planned and organized by undergraduate students who enrolled in the Festival and Event Management courses under the supervision of Prof. Jacey CHOE, Assistant Professor of the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management. As a signature course offered by the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management, the Festival and Event Management course provides students with this experiential learning opportunity. The event planning team for the “Solar Stellar” 2023 Alumni Gathering was made up of 51 students from this course. From the creation of the event’s theme through site decoration, material manufacturing, venue planning, on-site monitoring and risk management, the students participated actively and conquered many challenges together.
Throughout the game’s design stage, the event planning team constantly tested the rules and time control to generate a better interaction. The students developed a greater understanding of the event planning process and the value of teamwork as a result of their preparation work. As the event’s chairperson, Crystal, Kuan Leng SIO, a third-year student in the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management, stated that the preparation process required communication with teachers and classmates, as well as reasonable task allocation, however, it is gratifying to see that everyone could work hard for a common goal. The event was a success, and the students not only obtained essential professional knowledge but also valuable experience in event planning and management.
