Macau casino concessionaire Sands China Ltd and the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a new two-year “Sands China Western Culinary Elite Programme”.
The initiative includes an eight-week training at the internationally-renowned École Ducasse in France, and “aims to cultivate… culinary talent” in production of Western cuisine, “and further strengthen collaboration between industry, academia, and research,” stated the gaming firm in a written announcement.
The new programme, said to utilise a “hire and train” model, “is primarily targeted at top graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts Management at UTM,” noted the update.
Participants will “gain knowledge of international culinary culture and professional standards during their 24-month training, which covers academic theory, professional certification, and hands-on training at integrated resorts,” added the release.
Grant Chum (pictured right), chief executive and executive director of Sands China, said in prepared remarks that talent development was “not only a key to a corporation’s sustainable development, but also an essential part of Sands China’s corporate social responsibility”.
“UTM is our long-serving partner, and we are delighted to sign an MoU with them to launch the Sands China Western Culinary Elite Programme, with the aim of combining our respective strengths in industry resources and academic expertise,” he added.
The announcement cited UTM’s rector, Fanny Vong (pictured left), as saying: “University education should go hand in hand with the needs of industry. Through this new partnership, our graduates will gain hands-on training at integrated resorts, while overseas study will broaden their cross-cultural horizons, further supporting the long-term growth of Macau’s tourism sector.”
Following the signing ceremony, Sands China and UTM jointly held an “Innovative Hospitality Management” symposium, which explored the application and prospects of technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in the hospitality industry.
