AUT students embrace the world
18 students studying tourism, hospitality, event management and culinary arts at AUT recently travelled to Hong Kong on a cultural exchange programme, Embrace the World.
The students were selected across the three years of the degree programmes, which made for a diverse group – all of whom have a passion for travel.
This was the second exchange the School of Hospitality and Tourism arranged, thanks to generous sponsorship by Hong Kong Airlines and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
The students made the most of the opportunity by ensuring their itinerary was packed with all the exciting and interesting things Hong Kong has to offer, including a trip to Macau. Each day was full of learning and new experiences, which included a visit to Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Harrel Rogado, a Bachelor of International Hospitality Management student, said, “This was yet another full-on day where aching feet were a well worth trade for the new knowledge we gained and great experiences we had.”
Hong Kong Polytechnic University was a highlight for many students who enjoyed seeing the Hotel Icon – an outstanding example of a forward-thinking hotel, which is run by students studying at HKPU.
Another highlight was being able to speak with Dr Murray Mackenzie – a former AUT academic who now works as HKPU’s education specialist in integrated learning – who spoke to the students about industry trends and the opportunities the school offers its students.
The students also got to enjoy the many highlights Hong Kong has to offer, including the Giant Buddha, fortune telling at Wong Tai Sin Temple and enjoying a Michelin star restaurant.
“The opportunities the students have to both travel and learn on this study exchange are experiences that lay excellent foundations for their future,” says Helen Andreassen, programme leader for the Bachelor of International Tourism Management, who worked with Yvonne Wood to escort the students.
The trip was nicely summed up by Bachelor of Arts in Event Management student Trezanah MacCauley who said, “Words cannot describe how amazing this entire trip has been. Kia ora rawa atu to AUT, the School of Hospitality and Tourism, Hong Kong Airlines, our tour guides, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong Poly-U School of Hotel Management and Tourism, Helen, Yvonne, Sarah, and to all the students who made this trip worthwhile. I will carry this memory for a lifetime.”
The students blogged their journey on Wordpress.
Wordpress website