Sands Academy: Supporting Career Development and Growth
Acting under a unified global charter, Sands Academy, our global development and mentorship program, supports the career goals of our Team Members, while simultaneously improving our business operations through fostering stronger, more knowledgeable teams. Additionally, as we recognize the unique needs of our individual business regions, Sands Academy tailors its programs to the unique needs of our communities in the United States and Asia.
In Macao, just as in our other business regions, Sands China is committed to helping local talent grow into professional positions within the company. The Sands China Academy was created as a platform to help foster professional talent in the Macao community, through cooperating with local and international universities and government entities.
The Sands Academy initiatives in Macao center around three key features:
- Variety: Offering an abundance of horizontal and vertical management talent programs in order to meet our collective business and market needs, contributing to a pool of diversified talent with varied skills and knowledge to support the company’s portfolio
- High quality: Screening and shortlisting of potential candidates based on strict criteria to ensure high standards for participation; for example, the Train-the-Trainer series ensures the high quality of each trainer with regular performance reviews and quality assessments.
- Dynamic: Keeping abreast of the times and adjusting programs based on the latest market trends.
One example of these diverse offerings is the Sands China Integrated Resort Business Analyst Development Program. This tailor-made course, from Macau University of Science and Technology and Macao Polytechnic Institute, first launched in 2018. It provides on-the-job experience in three areas: finance, information technology and strategic analysis. Participants can become senior business analysts after completing an 18-month course, and also obtain professional certifications, including the first level of business analysis (ECBA), certified practicing accountant (CPA) and project management professional (PMP). Since the program’s launch, 219 applicants developed into 10 senior business analysts with the company.
As of October 2020, Sands China delivered more than 1.24 million on-the-job training hours to Team Members. On average, each Sands China Team Member receives approximately 48 hours of training, higher than the local standard of 34 hours introduced by the Association for Talent Development (ATD). The company’s efforts have paid off for the local community, resulting in a substantial growth in the percentage of Macao locals in management positions – more than quadrupling from 20% in 2004 to 90% currently.
