The Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) has been rated in the freshly released QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 as one of the top-10 higher education institutions globally for hospitality and leisure management studies, being adjudged also the best in the whole of Asia in this field. It is the first time that a Macao higher education institution has reached such a high position in the rankings.
IFTM has been placed 10th in the world – a jump of 13 places year-on-year – in terms of higher education institutions offering programmes in hospitality and leisure management. The Institute’s new top ranking in Asia for such education compares to its 3rd place in Asia in 2022. Within Macao itself, IFTM is the number 1 in the field for the seventh consecutive year, under the QS World University Rankings by Subject.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject rate the top higher education institutions across the globe by individual topic areas. The 2023 placings were released on 22 March. A total of 2,477 institutions around the globe were considered for the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 in relation to hospitality and leisure management education, representing an increase of 14 percent in year-on-year terms. In face of fierce competition, the Institute’s high score was attributed to the ‘academic reputation’ indicator. IFTM also saw its ‘employer reputation’ score – in terms of how the Institute’s alumni are regarded in the labour market – increase significantly in the latest edition of the rankings.
In just four years, IFTM has gone from being ranked 33rd in the world to being one of the top-10 institutions in that area of study. The improvement has coincided with transformative steps at the Institute which include, among others, continuous improvement in teaching and learning, the launch of master’s degree and PhD programmes; and the introduction of new dual degree programmes in partnership with internationally acclaimed educational institutions.
Other worth-noting initiatives include the development of new facilities such as the iRetail Lab and Heritage Documentation Laboratory, as well as the launch of the Ideation Lab business idea incubator. In addition, IFTM’s two educational training units – the Pousada de Mong-Há boutique hotel and the Educational Restaurant – have each undergone refurbishment, while the Taipa campus has grown in capacity with the addition of the Silver Jubilee Building.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject aim to help prospective students identify the world’s leading higher education institutions in their preferred field of study. Such a rankings list has been released each year since 2011, and currently covers a total of 54 subjects of study. The hospitality and leisure management subject was added to the system in 2017. Rankings can be viewed at www.topuniversities.com.
