Director, School of Continuing Studies, Coordinator, International Tourism Management Programs, Macau University of Science and Technology

Aliana is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE). She received her Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degree in Tourism Business Management from Edith Cowan University , Australia , in Adult Education from the Ball State University, USA, and in Higher Education from Central Queensland University , Australia . During her studies in the US , she received the “Perfect GPA and Academic Excellence Award”. She was granted a scholarship by the Macau Foundation for her doctoral studies.

Upon her return to Macau , Aliana worked at the Institute of Tourism Studies from September 1993 until February 1998. She was Librarian and also Assistant Professor in Tourism Studies. While she was designated Coordinator, the Tourism major won the PATA Gold Award for Tourism Education in 1997.

From February 1998 to March 2002, she was the Assistant Director and Director for the Center for Continuing Studies and Special Programs (CCS) in the University of Macau and at the same time, an invited Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. She was also a member of the University Pedagogic Council and the Academic Council. With the idea of promoting lifelong learning in mind, she initiated and developed over 200 occupation-oriented Higher Adult Education professional training courses. She planned, organized and implemented many programs, one of which was “Enhancing Corporate Image" for the STDM with over 7000 participants. By 2001, the student enrollment swelled to 16,000 from 270 headcounts in 1998 when she started working there.

From April 2002, she was appointed Director of the Institute of Professional Studies and Research at the Macau Millenium College , and while Associate Professor, she was the Dean of the Associate Degree of Tourism and Entertainment Management. The college was established primarily to improve the quality of human resources for tourism and gaming corresponding to the rapid development of these industries. Meanwhile, she was invited to be the adviser of the CCS and became a member of the Academic Council of the Institute of Financial Services under the Monetary Authority of Macau. She developed a series of professional training programs like the Diploma of Contemporary Issues of Tourism and Gaming Development, Logistic Management and Applied Library Management courses.

In mid-March 2003, she was appointed as the Director of the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) of the Macau University of Science and Technology. She is a member of the University Pedagogic and Academic Council. She is also an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the International Tourism Management programs for both SCS and the Faculty of Management and Administration with majors in MICE, Hotel Management, Gaming Management and English/Chinese Translation. The SCS provides diverse opportunities to adult learners including various certificate/diploma courses, undergraduate programs in International Tourism Management, and postgraduate studies in Hospitality Management. The certificate and diploma courses are jointly organised with higher education institutions in the PRC and overseas, with international exchange activities and special training projects for the cadres of various provinces in the PRC . In addition, the SCS also organises conferences, seminars, and educational activities and engages in adult and continuing education research and publishing work.

Aliana is actively engaged in education and tourism research. She has published and presented over 30 papers in journals, books, international and regional conferences in Europe, East Asia, China, and America and has edited two books in the past years. S he is also the editor of the Journal of Macau Adult Education .

Aliana enthusiastically tackles social responsibilities. She was the Head of Promotion and Publicity for the Committee for Celebrating Activities of Macau Hand-over to the PRC in Education. Currently, she is the Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Macau Fair and Trade Association, Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Macau Adult Education Association, Macau Coordinator for the East Asia Forum of Adult Education, Founding Member of Cross Strait Forum on Continuing Education, Member of Association for Social Sciences and Secretary for the Putonghua Club.

Contact

Aliana Leong
School of Continuing Studies
Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao 335-341,
Hotline Center, 10/F, Macau
Email: alleong@must.edu.mo
Tel: (853)7961-888
Fax: (853)750020

December 2005