Inaugural Group Begins Macao Masters Degree in Hospitality

On 26 July 2010, the inaugural class of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Singapore Campus met for its orientation day at the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) Macao, UNLV Singapore’s partner in offering a Masters Degree in Hospitality Administration. Ten students make up this elite inaugural group, representing the hotel properties of the City of Dreams, Grand Hyatt Macau, L’Arc Hotel Macau, MGM Grand Macau, and the Venetian Macau. The pioneering class will begin their studies on 1 August 2010 beginning with Human Resource Management and Information Technology for the Hospitality Industry; future modules will include Casino Management, Hospitality Finance, and Services Management to name a few. UNLV’s Master of Hospitality Administration (MHA) Executive Programme targets working professionals within the hospitality field. Its flexible programme design, combining distance learning and on-site intensive one-week seminars, is a convenient model for industry professionals to maintain their current employment while pursuing an internationally recognised graduate degree. The MHA degree programme is offered at the Las Vegas and Singapore campuses of UNLV, and Macao is its third programme location. The pioneering batch will visit Las Vegas for Seminar Week in December 2010. UNLV is offering the MHA programme in partnership with IFT Macao, a long time hospitality educator and partner of the university. Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, Dean of UNLV’s Singapore Campus says, “UNLV Singapore is proud to offer this unique opportunity in partnership with IFT Macao to the hospitality professionals of Macao. We are pleased to see the high quality of the first group of students and we are certain that through their graduate studies they will to contribute to the future leadership within the hospitality industry.” Background on UNLV and IFT
UNLV has a 50-year history of academic excellence and its graduates can be found in key management positions in leading hotels throughout the world. The Singapore Campus, which opened in August 2006, is UNLV’s first international campus and has a current student population of over 250 students. UNLV’s Singapore Campus is accredited in the United States and recognised by the Singapore Ministry of Education. IFT, established in 1995, is a public institution of higher education that offers degree and professional programmes in a wide range of tourism-related disciplines such as hospitality, tourism business, heritage, events, retail and marketing, leisure and entertainment, sports and recreation, creative and cultural studies, and culinary arts. IFT has received various awards in recognition of its achievement in quality education. In 2008, IFT was awarded the “Medal of Merit for Tourism” by the Macao SAR Government for its contribution to the development of tourism industry. Contact Information for media interview
For more information or to arrange for interviews with either Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, Dean of UNLV Singapore, or Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT Macao, please contact: For UNLV Singapore
Ms. Jenny WeinmanManager of Graduate Programs
(65) 6332-9538 ext. 610
jennifer.weinman@unlv.edu.sg For IFT Macao
Ms. Frida LawSenior Public Relations Officer
(853) 8598-3182
frida@ift.edu.mo