Recently, the “UM-Fudan 2+2 (International Integrated Resort Management – Tourism Management) Programme” has been officially launched. Through the integration of resources from both universities, the programme aims to cultivate top talents with international vision and local practical skills for the tourism and leisure industry in the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, thereby contributing to the prosperous development of the cultural and tourism industry.
Educational Innovation in the Greater Bay Area
With the deepening of Macau’s strategy for appropriate and diversified economic development, the integrated tourism and leisure industry has become the core engine for Macau’s high-quality development. In response to this development trend and to further meet the demand for future-oriented tourism industry leaders, the University of Macau and Fudan University signed a strategic collaboration framework agreement in 2021, and are actively exploring the cross-regional education model, which is closely centered on the development needs of the Greater Bay Area. The official launch of this collaborative programme marks a substantial step forward in the cooperation between the two universities in the discipline of tourism and leisure management, providing a broader platform for the youth of Hong Kong and Macau to integrate into the overall development of the country.
Joint Cultivation Model
The programme is guided by three core objectives:
- To serve the strategic positioning of Macau: Focusing on the needs for the construction of the “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure”, the programme emphasizes nurturing future-oriented talents in international hotel management, business, convention and exhibition, and cultural tourism, thereby injecting new vitality into the development of Macau’s tourism industry.
- Strengthening knowledge of cultural tourism in Mainland China: Through systematic curriculum design, the programme helps students fully understand the development of the cultural tourism industry in Mainland China, deepening the integration of cultural tourism in the Greater Bay Area, and enhancing cross-cultural communication skills.
- Facilitating career pathways in the Greater Bay Area: Leveraging the resources of the industry alliance between the two universities, the programme provides students with integrated support for internships and employment, facilitating their career development in the Greater Bay Area.
Two-university Degrees Awarded
The programme is open to undergraduate students majoring in Bachelor of Science in International Integrated Resort Management with a specialization in Convention and Hospitality Management at the University of Macau (UM) and adopts the “2+2” innovative training mode. Students will study at UM and Fudan University for two years each, completing a total of four years of study.
Students who meet the graduation requirements will receive bachelor’s degrees from both UM and Fudan University respectively, with their qualifications will be widely recognized by local and international authorities. Obtaining degrees from both universities will significantly enhance the international competitiveness of the students and lay a solid foundation for them to scale new heights in their future careers.
The implementation of this collaborative programme is not only an important milestone in the cooperation between UM and Fudan University, but also a powerful testament to the innovative development of education in the Greater Bay Area and the Mainland. In the future, the two universities will continue to deepen their cooperation and work together to cultivate more outstanding talents for the cultural and tourism industry in the Greater Bay Area.
