Prior to the trip, students were assigned a 7 to 8 weeks pre-departure research and literature review on their chosen topics, which led to the formation of their various groups. The chosen topics included Tourism Development in Hong Kong; Assessing Heritage Planning/ Preservation in Hong Kong; and How to Improve Long Stay Tourism in Hong Kong.
 |
| Students [at the back] with the management team of The Excelsior [front from left] Kit Tong, Director of Market Analysis; Doris Ip, Director of HR; Eric Kee, Hotel Manager and their lecturers Daniel Chong and Adeline Kok of Sunway University |
This trip is the sixth since 2009, previous study trips have been made to Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea. Speaking of why Hong Kong was chosen this time, Lee Si Min who hails from South Korea said that the destination was decided based on majority preference and the curiosity of Hong Kong as a strategic tourism case study in class. In addition, “Considering the different nationalities in our class, Hong Kong is a common place for my fellow classmates to apply their visas,” added Pham Xuan Quyet, Riley, from Vietnam.
Upon arrival at Hong Kong, students followed their pre-set itinerary to collect primary research data for their 5000 word post-field trip report worth 40 percent weightage of the module. According to Daniel Chong Ka Leong, one of the key lecturers driving the CTHCM’s field trips, the quality of students’ field trip research writing so far is high as some of the research papers have been selected and published in journals. This is a complimentary testimony to the impact of field trips on research writing.
For the students’ research, they visited two hotels, The Excelsior and Hotel Icon where they were able to talk to hotel managers and observe the hotels’ daily operation, allowing them to see the direct impacts on quality services. From the primary research data collected through interviews with hotel managers and questionnaire surveys from the public, students discovered findings beyond their literature review on their research topics.
Apart from fruitful research, the students experienced culture shock in Hong Kong, their lodging rooms in MongKok, the busiest area in Hong Kong, were small and they found living expenses in Hong Kong high, and the hospitality was notoriously less friendly.
The trip has provided a great exposure academically and culturally for the students. Such study trips have proven to be an essential part of a holistic education to discover the leader within. Ching Pei Li, has much to thank as the programme and lecturers are grooming her to be her best. “Opportunities to go on field trips and trainings gives us the exposure, they allow us to know ourselves better, what we want, provide us connections and prepare us with the knowledge and skills for future employment,” said Ching.
For Lee Si Min and Pham Xuan Quyet, Riley, their experience as international students in Malaysia with the BSc (Hons) International Hospitality Management programme will be unforgettable. Lee said “The programme was unique as it has been carefully designed by lecturers for us to see clearly the real work in the real world or ‘behind the scenes’. I joined the programme without knowing my future direction, but now, upon finishing, I aspire to work in the MICE (Meeting Incentive Convention Exhibition) Industry in Malaysia.”
Pham is proud to be a Sunway student. The highlights so far as a student is not only on the knowledge he has gained in the classroom but through other activities such as being a Course Ambassador which helps equip him with skills to run his family business in the future when he goes back home in Vung Tau, Vietnam. He hopes to return to Sunway University again after 2 years of work experience for a Master’s programme so that he can emulate his lecturers in pursuing a hospitality-related career in education.
Reflecting on the reasons of choosing the programme is Wan Wei Lie who aims to secure employment in ‘new brand’ or ‘new hotels’ such as the W Hotel and Aloft Hotel. “The advanced facilities such as the kitchens first caught my attention to sign up for the programme, in the end the lecturers were the ones who made a difference in my studies and helped sustain my interest,” explained Wan.
With all the positive feedbacks, the students were emotional as they see their study at Sunway University is approaching an end. When asked whether they would choose the same programme again if they were back in time, without hesitation, they simultaneously answered “Yes!”
At Sunway University, students in the BSc (Hons) International Hospitality Management will take with them not only knowledge in textbooks, but in-depth-knowledge and skills needed for the hospitality industry, and above all, treasurable memories that pave a fundamental foundation for one to reminiscent and thrive further to succeed in life.
No comments:
Post a Comment