The “Sheraton Professional Development Scheme” of City U offers two training paths—for generalists and specialists of the hotel industry. Four years college tuition of all students participating in the project are covered by the cooperative enterprise in addition to their student subsistence allowance. Over 80 students have joined the scheme since its establishment and Sheraton Macau guarantees to offer them supervisor or higher positions after graduation. The “Sheraton Professional Development Scheme” was exclusively set up for International Hospitality and Tourism Management Bachelor Program students of FITM City U two years ago. Sheraton Macau HR General Manager, Chen S.L, stated that the scheme intends to cultivate local professionals for middle management positions. As an international brand, Sheraton Macau attracts as elite workforce from all over the world, but local professionals are indispensable. Macau suffers from a shortage of human resources as only a few college graduates are willing to take a post in front-line hotel work, so the best way is to train undergraduates familiar with the operation of Sheraton Macau.
At the first stage of internship, students are assigned to the housekeeping and catering departments. The generalist training path offers post rotation and helps the students to accumulate different working experiences and understand the overall operation of the hotel. Students may enter the Starwood career care project training path in their second year, learning skills in supervision and getting ready for future management positions. Students with excellent performance in the first stage are directly taken into the Starwood career care project training program through the specialist training path to learn necessary skills for the post of assistant manager.
In addition to the subsistence allowance of MOP 6,500 per month, the cooperative enterprise covers the MOP 120,000 college tuition for four years of all participating students. The students also enjoy the same welfare and promotion opportunities provided to full time employees.
This valuable opportunity allows students participating in this project to accumulate precious working experience in the largest hotel in Macau while still in school. Meanwhile, their classes and internship schedule is coordinated by a specially-assigned staff to avoid any time conflict. Sheraton Macau HR General Manager, Chen S.L, admitted that the scheme faced some challenges in the beginning, such as suspicion of hiring cheap labour. In the first year of the scheme, 33 percent of the students gave up due to unclear goals or difficulties at work. In the second year, no student gave up and more students inquired about the scheme at City U. Some 80 students are now taking part in the scheme.
By providing the students a supervisory or above position after their graduation without any limit of their departure, Chen S.L said she trust students would understand the efforts of Sheraton Macau. Should some choose to work at other hotels, the overall service of Macau’s hotel industry would still be promoted and the Macau tourism would still benefit.
