This sweltering hot summer has offered no excuse for five FHTM students and Dr. Christy Liu to idle at home. Together with 40 plus students from Columbia, Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau, they participated The 5thInternational Hospitality and Tourism Academy, organised by The College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina. From 9th to 29th July this summer school has enabled these international youngsters to learn hospitality knowledge, have fun and make friends in a foreign land, and have a taste of American culture.
There were six modules available for participants in the programme, namely Southern Cuisine, Event Planning, Resort and Revenue Management, Hospitality Leadership, Marketing, and Sustainability. Students were encouraged to enroll their most favorable three modules. The programme included a number of site visits, such as Carowinds Amusement Park, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and Chick-fil-a, a renowned fast-food restaurant in America. The highlight of the programme was a Southern American-styled closing ceremony co-organised by the participants who took Southern Cuisine and Event Planning, including all our FHTM students! It was an experiment that they showcased their learning outcomes, such as planning the event rundown, purchasing, cooking the buffet and event evaluation. All the course tutors and event participants enjoyed the afternoon.
