The QS World University Rankings (WUR) has put the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) at number 10 on its list of the best places to study hospitality and leisure management, bracketing it with such illustrious academies as Switzerland’s Les Roches and Hotel Institute Montreux and above Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University in 12th position.
The IFTM’s new ranking means it has climbed 20 spots since its lowly number 30 position in 2021. The Macau Daily Times says it “is the first time a Macau higher education institution has ranked so highly”.
High scores were achieved for academic reputation, reputation among employers and citations per paper, according to the WUR website. Figures show that 78% of the IFTM’s graduates find work in the tourism and hospitality industry, while nearly 9% pursue further education.
[See more: Forbes awards are a boost for Macao’s hotels but the sector still faces challenges]
The accolade for IFTM comes as Macao’s hospitality sector emerges from the pandemic and scrambles for trained staff.
Last month, Luis Heredia, president of the Macau Hotel Association, told Macao News that many personnel had left the hotel industry during the last three years.
“You can have the best product”, he said “but you need the human resources because they are the ones that will provide the smile, the standards, the guidance, and so on, and at this moment we’re not fully equipped, we’re lacking manpower”.
The IFTM was established in 1995 to offer training in hospitality, tourism business, heritage, events, retail and marketing, leisure and entertainment, sports and recreation, creative and cultural studies, and the culinary arts.
