PolyU Launches Online MicroMasters in International Hospitality Management

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce a MicroMasters programme in International Hospitality Management to bridge the knowledge gap between higher education and the workplace. Signalling the latest innovation in higher education, MicroMasters is a first-of-its-kind credential with a pathway to credit, designed for learners looking for a lifelong learning...

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce a MicroMasters programme in International Hospitality Management to bridge the knowledge gap between higher education and the workplace. Signalling the latest innovation in higher education, MicroMasters is a first-of-its-kind credential with a pathway to credit, designed for learners looking for a lifelong learning opportunity to advance their careers or follow a path to an accelerated on-campus programme.

Led by Professor Hanqin Qiu, SHTM Professor, and designed to develop learners' ability to manage high quality hospitality and tourism business across the globe, the MicroMasters in International Hospitality Management is the onlyonline MicroMasters, offered in the form of MOOC (Mass Open Online Courses) via the edX platform, created for hospitality and tourism in the world. This innovative programme prepares learners for the careers in-demand today by offering expertise in the dynamic field of international hospitality management through four courses, namely "Luxury Management", "Hospitality and Tourism Technology and Innovation", "Managing Marketing in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry", and "Managing Human Resources in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry". Learners who successfully earn the MicroMasters credentials will be eligible to apply for the SHTM's Master of Science in International Hospitality Management programme.

"In a world that has become very connected, it is vital for future hospitality leaders to have strong international perspectives to excel in the dynamic global environment," Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean and Chair Professor and Walter Kwok Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, remarked. "The SHTM is privileged to work with edX, the non-profit online learning destination founded by Harvard and MIT, in offering the first-ever MicroMasters in International Hospitality Management. This innovative educational strategy enables us to offer everyone from everywhere flexible, affordable credentials for career advancement and an accelerated Master's degree in the vital field of international hospitality management."

Mr Eric Du, General Manager of The Dragon Hotel, Hangzhou in Mainland China said, "Over the years the Dragon Hotel has been sending managerial staff to the SHTM to study Master's level courses. It is difficult for our staff to study and work at the same time. We are truly excited to learn that the SHTM will offer these courses online. We certainly welcome such innovative and flexible learning opportunity."

"As an extension of the SHTM and the world's leading integrated teaching and research hotel, our primary commitment is to develop outstanding leaders for the tourism industry. With this interactive technology, the School can deliver top-tier teaching via the internet to thousands or even millions of students around the world," noted Mr Richard Hatter, General Manager of Hotel ICON.

MicroMasters is an important modular and flexible credential for the digital age, and promises to serve as academic currency in a continuous, lifelong-learning world. The programme also supports an inverted admissions process, allowing learners everywhere to try Master's level course work from the SHTM before committing significant time and money toward applying for and enrolling in a Master's degree.

"We are honoured to work with the SHTM to launch MicroMasters, marking a new and exciting step toward furthering our shared mission to expand access to high-quality education," said Anant Agarwal, CEO at edX and professor at MIT. "MicroMasters provides the next level of innovation in learning and meets the needs of learners, universities and employers in today's on-demand, tech-driven-world."

For more details and enrollment, please visit: https://www.edx.org/micromasters/hkpolyx-international-hospitality-management

About PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management

For more than four decades, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality and Tourism Management" category in ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024 for the eighth consecutive year; placed No. 1 globally in the "Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services" category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2023/2024 for seven years in a row; rated No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism" subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017; and ranked No. 1 in Asia in the "Hospitality and Leisure Management" subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of over 90 faculty members from 21 countries and regions around the world, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School's groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, and inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/shtm/.

Human Resources Human Resources Asia Pacific Hong Kong (SAR) Hong Kong

For over 40 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022 for the sixth consecutive year; placed No.