May 2013 - Volume 14, Issue 2
Share via:
Polyu HTM
D.HTM Launched in Mainland China

At a launch ceremony held in Hangzhou on 13 April, the School announced that its Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management (D.HTM) programme had been approved by the Ministry of Education in mainland China and that the programme will be offered in the mainland for the first time by the SHTM in co-operation with Zhejiang University.

Officiating at the ceremony were Mr Ye Jian Guo, Associate Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Tourism Administration, Professor Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor of the SHTM, and Professor Wu Xiao Bo, Dean of the School of Management at Zhejiang University.

Addressing the audience, Dean Chon noted that to stay abreast of the new trends in China's tourism development and respond to the hospitality industry's strong demand for high calibre professionals, the SHTM was introducing the D.HTM's advanced teaching philosophy and model to the mainland. As the world's first professional doctoral programme in hotel and tourism management, the D.HTM prepares graduates to excel in the dynamic global environment by developing their innovation, creativity and advanced research skills within an Asian context.

Based on the US degree model, the programme will be delivered in Hangzhou on a part-time, block release basis for completion in 3 to 5 years. While concentrating on coursework, special emphasis will be placed on experiential learning, workshops and self-learning.

Immediately after the launch, a summit was held to focus on the "Sustainable Growth of China's Hospitality Industry and Development of High Quality Industry Talents". Keynote speeches were delivered by Professor Dai Bin, President of the China Tourism Academy on the topic "Say 'No' to Complaint - Thoughts over Preparing Leaders for Tourism Industry" and Professor Brian King, Associate Dean (Executive Education and Partnership) of the SHTM on the topic "Developing Asia's Next Generation of Tourism Leaders - Learning from Best Practice in Three Continents". The panel discussion that followed was moderated by Professor Cathy Hsu, Associate Dean (Academic Affairs) of the SHTM, with active participation from current students of the D.HTM programme in Hong Kong.

The SHTM believes that the joint effort between PolyU and Zhejiang University will reinforce the strong foundation already laid down by the two universities in preparing hospitality and tourism industry leaders with innovative thinking and international vision needed to fulfil China's goal of becoming a "global tourism power".

ACHIEVEMENTS AND RECOGNITION
SHTM VISITORS
SHTM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
PUBLICATIONS
CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS
STAFF UPDATES