Institute For Tourism Studies, Macao signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Jinan, Shandong Province on 5 November, to co-organise the “2010 Tourism Resources and Management Conference”. President of IFT, Dr. Fanny Vong and Vice Dean, Faculty of Economics, University of Jinan, Professor Zhao Wei signed the agreement.

IFT always strives to seek diversified development and expansion of international networks. Collaboration with overseas organisations and universities help to enhance the standard of the programmes. The signing of the agreement reinforced the ties between IFT and UJN, to co-organise the “2010 Tourism Resources and Management Conference”, tentatively in February 2010. Professors and scholars from various institutions will meet in Macao to share their knowledge and experience on different topics, such as the status and opportunities of tourism industry in the Mainland and Macao, the management of tourism resources, conservation of natural and cultural heritage, and challenges in sustainable development of tourism industry.

University of Jinan is a comprehensive university under the administration of Shandong Province. The university has been active in academic exchanges and cooperation with educational institutions abroad, and has established relations with various colleges and universities in Europe, North America and Asia, with over 100 scholars around the globe as visiting professors. UJN expects that, through the co-organisation of the conference next year, UJN will establish a closer cooperative relationship with IFT.

In recent years, IFT actively participates in academic exchanges, trainings and researches on cultural heritage. As the Knowledge Management Hub of the Asian Academy for Heritage Management, as well as the executive member of the UNESCAP Network of Asia-Pacific Education and Training Institutes in Tourism (APETIT), IFT strives to promote the long-term development of heritage education in Asia. By tightening the cooperation with Jinan University (Shandong) and other well-established and recognised higher education institutions, IFT expands students’ cultural and academic exchange opportunities, enhances Macao’s tourism and hospitality education and gains international recognition