According to a statement by the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) yesterday, a student from the public university has won a silver medal in Restaurant Service at the WorldSkills Australia Global Skills Challenge, while also receiving the “Best in Nation” award for achieving the highest score among local representatives.
The WorldSkills Macao-China Team competed at the international skills competition held in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, from June 23 to 29, the statement said, noting that UTM Culinary Arts Management Year 2 student Bianca Mak Correia, guided by lecturer Jerome Keong Ming Loong, secured second place in the Restaurant Service category.
The competition served as a preparatory event for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, which will take place in Shanghai this September, the statement said, underlining that the challenge attracted contestants from 13 countries and regions competing across 33 skill categories under judging standards based on the international WorldSkills framework.
According to the statement, the UTM delegation participated in four categories – Restaurant Service, Cooking (Western Cuisine), Bakery, and Pâtisserie and Confectionery.
The statement noted that the achievement followed months of intensive training by expert mentors, including lecturers Jerome Keong Ming Loong, Marieta Wong, David Charles Wiley Jr, and Jeffrey Lao Chak Cheong.
During the competition, Correia demonstrated strong restaurant service techniques, communication skills and adaptability under international judging standards, the statement highlighted. Other UTM representatives, including Jan Tou Cheok Lam in Cooking (Western Cuisine), Chaco Choi Chi Ieng in Bakery, and Vanessa Fu Ho I in Pâtisserie and Confectionery, also showcased their professional skills and creativity, the statement highlighted.
The statement said that the competition provided valuable international experience for the students and allowed them to better understand global industry standards. The team will conduct further reviews and refine their training strategies ahead of the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, aiming to achieve further success on the international stage, the statement noted.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) yesterday shows WorldSkills Australia Global Skills Challenge (Restaurant Service) second-place winner Bianca Mak Correia (left) posing with her lecturer, Jerome Keong Ming Loong , in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, proudly displaying the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) flag.
