FUTURE OF MACAU GAMING INDUSTRY AFTER THE NEW GAMING LAWS: A STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NON-GAMING INITIATIVES

ABSTRACT

THIS PAPER EXPLORES THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PERCEPTION AND CHALLENGES OF AFRICAN STUDENTS FROM  PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COUNTRIES (PSC) IN MACAU, ADOPTING A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHOD AND  CONDUCTING IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH TEN STUDENTS FROM THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO UNDERSTAND THEIR  PERCEPTIONS AND CHALLENGES TOWARDS THE ENTREPRENEURIAL FIELD.  THIS STUDY IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT ENRICHES THE THEORETICAL GUIDANCE FRAMEWORK. MOREOVER, IT HELPS  FUTURE RESEARCHERS UTILIZE VALUABLE DATA FOR THEIR RESEARCH IN THE FIELD WITH MANY SAMPLES. THE  INSIGHTS OBTAINED FROM THIS PAPER MIGHT INFORM POLICYMAKERS AND UNIVERSITIES ABOUT THE NECESSARY  FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN STUDENTS FROM PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COUNTRIES, IN A WAY THAT CAN ENCOURAGE THEM TO PURSUE ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES.  IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWING IS THE PRIMARY METHOD FOR DATA COLLECTION. THE THEMATIC CONTENT ANALYSIS  (TCA) AN APPROACH IS UTILIZED TO ANALYZE THE DATA FROM INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS.   EXISTING RESEARCH ILLUSTRATED STUDENTS FROM THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA'S ENTREPRENEURIAL PERCEPTION AND  CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS THEIR ASPIRATIONS AND INTENTIONS AS PLANNED AFTER THEIR STUDY. FROM THE POINT  OF VIEW OF THE RESEARCHER'S INTERVIEW WITH HIS SOURCES, THE RESEARCHER DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS NO  OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PURSUE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CAREER IN MACAU, WHICH MEANS THAT, AFTER THEIR  STUDY, THEY WILL RETURN TO THEIR MOTHERLAND.   III  IN CONCLUSION, BASED ON THE FINDINGS, UNDERSTANDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PERCEPTION AND CHALLENGES  STUDENTS FROM THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA CAN HELP TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND  UNIVERSITIES, BASED ON THEIR FIELD OF STUDY IN A WAY THEY CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE PRACTICAL  EXPERIENCE IN A WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.