Institute News Main Headline

Skål mentorship scheme gives IFTM student Alex Wu chance to liaise with tourism and hospitality industry leaders

IFTM student Alex Wu Qitao
中文摘要 / Summary in Chinese

The Young Skål International Macau Mentorship Programme is a “golden opportunity” for IFTM students to gain insights and advice from veteran leaders in tourism and hospitality. That is according to Alex Wu Qitao, a Year 4 student on the Tourism Event Management Bachelor Degree Programme.

Alex took part in the inaugural edition of the annual mentorship programme, launched in March 2019. “The discussions with my veteran mentors enabled me to broaden my horizons regarding the industry’s future,” he says.

The Skål mentors also provided Alex with advice when he was preparing for his 6-month curricular internship, part of his IFTM study programme. The advice allowed him to “quell some doubts” about his internship choices, he says. “In return, the mentors were keen on sharing with me insights from their working experience; they also offered me constructive suggestions.”

Alex’s mentors under the programme included IFTM Vice-President Ms. Florence Ian Mei Kun, and the head of the Institute’s Administrative and Financial Division, Mr. Frankey Sou Heng Fu.

The Young Skål International Macau Mentorship Programme targets young people either studying or working in the travel and tourism sectors. It provides participants with access to mentors from a number of professional fields, such as marketing and hospitality. The programme was set up by Young Skål Macau, an affiliate of Skål International Macau.

Skål International is a global platform bringing together travel and tourism professionals. It was established in Paris, France in 1934, and the Macao division was inaugurated in 1979. Skål International has today approximately 13,000 members spread across 334 clubs throughout 100 countries.

In a bid to nurture talent for the tourism sector, Skål groups across the globe have since 1999 been setting up Young Skål chapters. Young Skål Macau was inaugurated in 2018.

It was through his participation in Young Skål Macau that Alex gained access to the Young Skål International Macau Mentorship Programme. The local chapter has additionally provided him with other opportunities. In 2019, he was selected as a delegate to the 48th Skål Asia Congress in Bangalore, India.

“It was a unique experience,” Alex recalls. “The congress allowed me to keep abreast of industry development in Asia.”

He says the Skål Asia Congress was an opportunity for him to expand his international contact network through participation in round-table discussions with other Young Skål members from around the globe. Additionally, a field trip offered by the organisers during the Bangalore conference, was an eye-opener regarding Indian culture, Alex points out.

“Young Skål Macau is concerned about individual growth,” he says. “Young Skål Macau has been of great importance in order for me to enrich my life as a higher education student, and to lay a solid foundation for my future career path.”

President’s Corner

A special place

IFTM’s unique positioning means students have access to a deep pool of exclusive opportunities, including exchange and internship programmes outside Macao, allowing them to be exposed to new ideas, and to broaden their horizons. Read More