HUGE 2026 STRENGTHENS HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY COMPETENCIES TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

ALOR GAJAH, MELAKA – Universiti Islam Melaka (UNIMEL) continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening the tourism and hospitality industry through the organisation of the Hospitality Upskilling Guide Excellence 2026 (HUGE ’26), a two-day programme held at Parkroyal, Alor Gajah, Melaka.

The programme was officially launched by YB Datuk Rahmad bin Mariman, Melaka State Executive Councillor for Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs, representing YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf bin Yusoh, Chief Minister of Melaka.

HUGE ’26 brought together nearly 150 participants across three competency levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. The participants comprised students and youths, tourism and hospitality industry practitioners, tourism operators, and licensed tourist guides.

The programme aims to strengthen knowledge, enhance skills and develop participants’ competencies to better prepare them for the evolving needs and challenges of the tourism and hospitality industry. Various activities were organised to facilitate knowledge sharing, the exchange of experiences and the development of strategic networks among participants and industry practitioners.

The organisation of HUGE ’26 also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through the enhancement of knowledge, skills and lifelong learning; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, through the development of a skilled workforce and improved employability; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through stronger strategic collaboration between educational institutions and industry stakeholders.

This initiative reflects UNIMEL’s commitment to supporting human capital development, enhancing workforce competitiveness and contributing to the sustainable growth of Melaka’s tourism industry.

The two-day programme continues on its second day with activities focusing on skills enhancement and the pursuit of excellence in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Through HUGE ’26, UNIMEL hopes that continuous efforts in competency development and strategic collaboration between educational institutions and industry stakeholders will help produce a highly skilled workforce while driving Melaka’s tourism industry towards a more sustainable and competitive future.

HUGE 2026 PERKASA KOMPETENSI INDUSTRI HOSPITALITI KE ARAH PELANCONGAN MAMPAN

ALOR GAJAH, MELAKA – Universiti Islam Melaka (UNIMEL) terus komited dalam memperkasa industri pelancongan dan hospitaliti menerusi penganjuran Hospitality Upskilling Guide Excellence 2026 (HUGE ’26) yang berlangsung selama dua hari di Parkroyal, Alor Gajah, Melaka.

Program ini telah dirasmikan oleh YB Datuk Rahmad bin Mariman, EXCO Pendidikan, Pengajian Tinggi dan Hal Ehwal Agama Negeri Melaka, yang mewakili YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf bin Yusoh, Ketua Menteri Melaka.

Penganjuran HUGE ’26 menghimpunkan hampir 150 peserta daripada tiga kumpulan kompetensi, iaitu Beginner, Intermediate dan Advanced. Para peserta terdiri daripada pelajar dan golongan belia, penggiat industri pelancongan dan hospitaliti, pengusaha pelancongan serta pemandu pelancong berlesen.

Program ini bertujuan memperkukuh pengetahuan, meningkatkan kemahiran serta membangunkan kompetensi peserta agar lebih bersedia menghadapi keperluan dan cabaran industri pelancongan dan hospitaliti yang semakin dinamik. Pelbagai pengisian turut disediakan bagi membuka ruang kepada perkongsian ilmu, pertukaran pengalaman serta pembinaan jaringan strategik antara peserta dan penggiat industri.

Penganjuran HUGE ’26 turut menyokong Matlamat Pembangunan Mampan (Sustainable Development Goals – SDG) yang digariskan oleh Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), khususnya SDG 4: Pendidikan Berkualiti, melalui pemerkasaan pengetahuan, kemahiran dan pembelajaran sepanjang hayat; SDG 8: Pekerjaan yang Sesuai dan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi, melalui pembangunan tenaga kerja berkemahiran serta peningkatan kebolehpasaran; dan SDG 17: Perkongsian untuk Matlamat, melalui pengukuhan kerjasama strategik antara institusi pendidikan dengan pihak industri.

Inisiatif ini mencerminkan komitmen UNIMEL dalam menyokong pembangunan modal insan yang kompeten, meningkatkan daya saing tenaga kerja serta menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan industri pelancongan Melaka yang lebih mampan.

Program yang berlangsung selama dua hari ini diteruskan pada hari kedua dengan pengisian yang memberi tumpuan kepada pemerkasaan kemahiran dan kecemerlangan dalam industri pelancongan dan hospitaliti.

Melalui penganjuran HUGE ’26, UNIMEL berharap usaha berterusan dalam pembangunan kompetensi dan kerjasama strategik antara institusi pendidikan dengan pihak industri dapat melahirkan tenaga kerja yang berkualiti serta memacu industri pelancongan Melaka ke arah masa hadapan yang lebih mampan dan berdaya saing.