SHTM Celebrates Postgraduate Achievements at Sunway University Convocation
The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM), Sunway University, celebrates several significant postgraduate milestones, recognising the achievements of industry professionals and emerging scholars who contribute to the advancement of hospitality and tourism.
First Graduate through the APEL.Q Pathway in the Master in International Hospitality Management
SHTM proudly congratulates Ming Ho, Senior General Manager of Le Cordon Bleu Malaysia (Sunway), on becoming the first graduate admitted through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Qualifications (APEL.Q) pathway in the Master in International Hospitality Management (MIHM) programme.
With more than 20 years of professional experience, Ming's achievement highlights the value of recognising prior learning and professional expertise through academically rigorous postgraduate education. The APEL.Q pathway provides experienced professionals with an alternative route to academic qualifications, supporting lifelong learning while strengthening their knowledge and research capabilities.
This milestone was made possible through the contributions of Professor Malissa Maria Mahmud, Director of the Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), for championing lifelong learning through APEL.Q; Professor Daniel Chong Ka Leong and Associate Professor Dr Joaquim Dias Soeiro for their supervision; Belinda Fong for coordinating the APEL.Q process at SHTM; and Dr Philip Wong and Dr Lai Mun Yee for serving as examiners. SHTM also appreciates the presence of Charles Cointreau, Vice President of Le Cordon Bleu APAC, in celebrating this achievement.
Celebrating New Doctoral Graduates
SHTM also congratulates its newest Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduates, Dr Brian Chen and Dr Afsaneh Rostami, whose research contributes to the growing body of knowledge in hospitality, tourism, and related disciplines.
Dr Brian Chen's thesis, Analysing Cultural Influences on Eating Behaviours Through the Theory of Planned Behaviour: A Study of Urban Malay University Youths in Malaysia, examines cultural influences on food-related behaviour among urban Malay university youths.
His research was supervised by Dr Gary Daniels, with Professor Marcus L. Stephenson, Dr Ai Ling Tan, and Dr Tan Hui Ling.
Dr Afsaneh Rostami's thesis, An Intersectional Analysis of Muslim Iranian Women’s Motivations, Constraints, and Negotiation Strategies for Solo Travel, explores the experiences and travel decisions of Muslim Iranian women through an intersectional perspective.
Her research was supervised by Dr Gary Daniels, with Professor Dr Alexander Trupp, Professor Marcus L. Stephenson, and Dr Kamelia Chaichi.
These doctoral achievements reflect the dedication of the graduates and their supervisory teams in advancing scholarly research and contributing new perspectives to the hospitality and tourism fields.
Advancing Postgraduate Education and Research
These milestones reflect SHTM's continued commitment to developing industry professionals, researchers, and future leaders through postgraduate education and research. By supporting flexible learning pathways and fostering rigorous academic inquiry, the School aims to create opportunities for lifelong learning and generate knowledge that contributes meaningfully to the hospitality and tourism industries.
