The University of Macau held its 2019 graduation ceremony for honorary and post-graduate degrees on Saturday, conferring 151 doctoral (PhD) degrees, 611 masters degrees and 57 postgraduate certificates or diplomas for a total of 819 postgraduate degrees for the year.
These included 23 graduates of its Master of Science in International Integrated Resort Management (IIRM) – a first-of-its-kind course aimed at providing students with a detailed education in both the gaming and non-gaming aspects of IR operations. The MSc(IIRM), which is delivered by the University’s Faculty of Business Administration, has been described as similar to an MBA, but with particular focus on the global integrated resort business.
First launched in 2012, the MSc(IIRM) is delivered by experienced faculty members and renowned scholars with strong backgrounds in hotel operation and hospitality management, who are able to blend theory with practical insight.
The latest batch of graduates, which included Inside Asian Gaming CEO Andrew W Scott, takes the total number of graduates over the past seven years to 70.
According to the University of Macau, graduation is dependent upon fulfillment of required course work, passing of an oral defense and a cumulative GPA of not less than 2.7 out of 4.
An average of 55% to 69% of students within each graduating class have gone on to work within the industry.
“Students will be able to apply the integrated resort knowledge anywhere in the world and particularly within the region where integrated resort development is a hot trend in the gaming industry,” a University spokesperson told IAG.
The MSc(IIRM) is particularly notable given that it operates inside the world’s leading IR and gaming hub, with Macau having reported gross gaming revenue of MOP$302.85 billion (US$37.57 billion) in 2018.
The MSc(IIRM) program is also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) as part of the University of Macau Faculty of Business Administration’s institutional accreditation. AACSB is the largest, oldest and most prestigious business school accreditation in the world, with less than 5% of business schools around the world having earned the distinction.
