2024
The University of Macau (UM) held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2023/2024 academic year at its Ho Yin Conference Hall today (8 August). Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM and chair of UA, presided over the meeting. During the meeting, he said that Macao is in a new stage of development and should take advantage of its special status and distinctive strengths in national development to promote economic diversification. UM should help develop China into a leading country in education, promote the development of new quality productive forces, and support the country’s high-quality development.
The University of Macau (UM) held the Congregation 2024 on 2 June. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U, who represented the chief executive of the Macao SAR and chancellor of UM at this year’s congregation, said that UM has made continuous advancements in its academic standards and research quality, remained steadfast in its pursuit of becoming a leading international university, and made significant contributions to producing top-notch talent who love the country and Macao. Secretary Ao Ieong officiated at the congregation in the company of UM University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng Peter, UM Rector Yonghua Song, and Vice Rectors Rui Martins, Ge Wei, Mok Kai Meng, and Xu Jian. Representatives of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR; government officials; members of the University Assembly, University Council and Senate of UM; prominent members of the community; UM faculty and staff members; and student representatives also witnessed the ceremony. In addition, a live stream was available in designated areas on campus to enable families and friends of the graduates to witness the ceremony. Those who were unable to be present physically also joined this special occasion virtually through the live stream. This year, more than 1,700 undergraduate students graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Social Sciences. Among them, 66 outstanding students have also completed the Honours College Certificate Programme.
2023
The University of Macau (UM) held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2022/2023 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall on 29 June. Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. He stressed the need to learn and implement the spirit contained in President Xi Jinping’s letter of reply to higher education institutions and science and technology workers in Macao last month, promote technological innovation and commercialisation of research results, and nurture more outstanding talent who love China and Macao.
The University of Macau (UM) held the Congregation 2023 on 10 June. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U, representing the chief executive of Macao SAR and UM chancellor at this year’s ceremony, said that the university has achieved remarkable growth while making continued contributions to the nation and Macao. Secretary Ao Ieong officiated at the ceremony in the company of UM University Council Chair Peter Lam Kam Seng, UM Rector Yonghua Song, and Vice Rectors Michael Hui, Rui Martins, Ge Wei, Mok Kai Meng, and Xu Jian. Representatives of the University Assembly, University Council, and Senate, as well as government officials, prominent members of the community, UM faculty and staff, and student representatives also witnessed the ceremony. Three live broadcast areas were set up on campus for family members and friends of graduates to watch the ceremony, while those who were unable to attend in person joined the event through the university’s online streaming service. This year, more than 1,700 students of bachelor’s degree programmes, from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences, and Faculty of Science and Technology, received their graduation certificates. Among these students, 126 have completed programmes offered by the Honours College.
2022
The University of Macau (UM) held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2021/2022 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall on 18 August. Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. In his speech, the chancellor stressed that the SAR government had announced the second five-year plan of Macao, which would serve as a general blueprint for the city’s future development and would create conditions for higher education marketisation as well as research results transfer. UM should build itself on the practical needs of China and Macao and contribute to the sustainable development of Macao’s economy and society through providing quality education, conducting key research studies, developing an innovative mode of industry-academia collaboration, and offering community services.
The University of Macau (UM) held the Congregation 2022 on 28 May. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U, representing the chief executive and UM chancellor at this year’s ceremony, said that the university has made great strides in many areas, such as nurturing outstanding patriotic talent for Macao, accelerating research innovation and industry-academia collaboration, as well as setting up joint training programmes and research platforms with mainland institutions, adding that the university’s academic standing and international reputation have been further elevated. Secretary Ao Ieong officiated at the ceremony in the company of UM University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng, UM Rector Yonghua Song, and Vice Rectors Michael Hui, Rui Martins, Ge Wei, Mok Kai Meng, and Xu Jian. Representatives of the University Assembly, University Council, and Senate, as well as government officials, prominent members of the community, UM faculty and staff, and student representatives also witnessed the ceremony. Companions of graduates attending the ceremony watched the live streaming of the event at four locations on campus, while graduates and their families and friends who were unable to attend the ceremony in person participated in the event online. This year, more than 1,800 students of bachelor’s degree programmes, from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences, and Faculty of Science and Technology received their graduation certificates. Among these students, 125 have completed the Honours Programme offered by the Honours College.
2021
The University of Macau (UM) held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2020/2021 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall on 5 July 2021. Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. In his speech, the chancellor stressed that this year marks the beginning of the implementation the 14th Five-Year Plan of China and the SAR government is working hard on the preparation of the Second Five-Year Plan of Macao in line with the national plan. As the only public comprehensive university in Macao, UM should play an important role in the future development of Macao, in accordance with the development strategies of the nation and the SAR. Furthermore, in line with the SAR government’s goal of developing Macao through science and education, UM should constantly enhance its comprehensive strength in order to achieve a quantum leap. At the meeting, the chancellor shared his views on the future development of the university in five areas, including accelerating the pace of developing UM into a world-class university, promoting the commercialisation of research results of UM, cultivating talent with leadership skills to govern Macao, accelerating the integration into national development, and building a higher education brand with local characteristics.
The University of Macau (UM) held the Congregation 2021 on 19 June. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U, representing the chief executive and UM chancellor at this year’s ceremony, expressed hope that the university would continue to produce outstanding research results and nurture talent who love China and Macao to facilitate moderate economic diversification of Macao. Ao Ieong U officiated at the ceremony in the company of UM University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng Peter, UM Rector Yonghua Song, and Vice Rectors Michael Hui, Rui Martins, Ge Wei, and Billy So. Representatives of the University Assembly, University Council, and Senate, as well as government officials, prominent members of the community, UM faculty and staff, and student representatives also witnessed the ceremony. Companions of graduates attending the ceremony watched the live streaming of the event at three locations on campus, while graduates and their families and friends who were unable to attend the ceremony in person participated in the event online. This year, more than 1,500 students of bachelor’s degree programmes, from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Social Sciences, received their graduation certificates. Among these students, 117 have completed the Honours Programme offered by the Honours College.
The University of Macau (UM) today (17 January) held an opening ceremony to kick off the celebration for its 40th anniversary. Many distinguished guests attended the ceremony held in the plaza in front of the university library to witness this important moment and share the joy of the anniversary. They included officials of the Macao SAR government and offices of the central government in Macao, Legislative Assembly members, representatives of the education sector, scholarship donors, representatives of UM’s partner institutions, as well as UM faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
2020
The University of Macau (UM) on 28 November held the Congregation 2020, which was livestreamed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U, representing the chief executive and UM chancellor at this year’s ceremony, said that UM adopted a series of anti-epidemic measures to ensure the smooth progress of teaching and research activities. She also thanked UM for its contributions to the SAR government in its efforts to fight the pandemic.
UM held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2019/2020 academic year on 21 July in its Ho Yin Conference Hall. Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. The chancellor expressed his expectations for UM in five areas. The first is educational philosophy and features. As the only comprehensive public university in Macao, UM is an important platform for cultivating talent to support the sustainable development of Macao. Therefore, the university must nurture world-class talent who are innovative, socially responsible, internationally competitive, globally-minded, and who love their motherlands. The second is industry-academia collaboration. The country has high expectations for the diversification of Macao’s industries, and the Macao SAR government has also invested enormous resources in education and scientific research. He hopes UM will make new progress in the transfer of technological results and the diversification of Macao’s industries. The third is serving society. The chancellor hopes that HE institutions in Macao will play a greater role in promoting theoretical studies and innovations of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy. The fourth is faculty development. The chancellor hopes that the university continues to nurture local scholars while at the same time recruiting outstanding talent from around the world. The university should create a fairer and more relaxed environment for faculty members to fully use their talents. The fifth is use of resources. He hopes the university adheres to the principle of frugality and uses resources judiciously in order to get through the difficult times with Macao residents while not affecting the quality of education. Ho also thanked UM faculty, staff, and students for their support to the SAR government’s anti-epidemic campaign.
2019
UM on 9 November held the Ceremony for the Conferment of Honorary and Higher Degrees 2019. During the ceremony, the university conferred honorary doctorates on Mr Qiao Xiaoyang, Ms Lau Sin Peng, Prof Dennis Lo Yuk Ming, and Dr Roy Chung Chi Ping, in recognition of their outstanding achievements and significant contributions to social development and education.
UM on 19 June held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2018/2019 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall. Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. Chui was very pleased to see UM’s active involvement in the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), as reflected in its partnering up with universities and companies in the GBA in personnel training and in the construction of bases on Hengqin island for collaborations between industry, universities, and research institutes; in its efforts to commercialise its research results in mainland China; and in its joining university alliances. The university has been steadily promoting the development of technology and innovation in response to the national development strategy. UM has been expanding its global network and has partnered up with many famous universities and other academic institutes both in China and abroad, to launch joint degree programmes, establish joint key labs, and creat national research platforms. In terms of personnel training, UM last year launched the UM Macao Talent Programme in order to recruit high-calibre professionals from around the world. These measures help to substantially implement the ‘Go Global’ and ‘Bring In’ strategy. They will not only increase UM’s teaching quality and international competitiveness, but will also help to diversify and internationalise Macao’s higher education system, and inject a new impetus to Macao’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
UM held the Congregation 2019 on 25 May. Macao SAR Chief Executive and UM Chancellor Chui Sai On praised the university for nurturing innovative graduates with global vision and producing fruitful research results to support the economic diversification and sustainable development of Macao through an outstanding faculty team.
2018
UM held the Ceremony for the Conferment of Honorary and Higher Degrees 2018 on 1 December. At the ceremony, UM conferred honorary doctorates on Prof Joseph Sung Jao-yiu, Dr Anthony Lau Siu Wing, and Mr Lao Ngai Leong, for their outstanding achievements and significant contributions to social development and education.
UM held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2017/2018 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall on 19 June. Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. Chui said, ‘We can never stress more the importance of education to our nation and its role in the social and economic progress of the Macao community. Talent nurturing has always been at the top of our policy agenda and it is our conviction that it is a means to making Macao thrive and prosperous. To do that well, therefore, we are optimising education policies and we are providing more resources for education. The Hengqin campus brings in new opportunities and now, a new chapter. All this is how we can describe this university as we know it today and all this is attributable to the successful workings of One Country Two Systems and no less to the steadfast support of higher education by the central government, the SAR government and the local community.’ He said, ‘I trust that under the concerted efforts of its staff, the university will be able to do a good job to measure up to what society expects of it. On my part, I hold the same expectations of the university: keep exploring, make use of the integrated learning approach to produce a great education in various disciplines, be innovation-spirited and be reactive to the socio-economic developments of our society.’
UM held the Congregation 2018 on 26 May. Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR and chancellor of UM, said at the ceremony that tertiary education is key to producing talented individuals, and an ‘intellectual’ bank is important for Macao. He pledged continued support to the university in its pursuit of curriculum reform, development of the residential college system, and whole-person education.
2017
UM held the Ceremony for the Conferment of Honorary and Higher Degrees 2017 on 11 November. During the ceremony, the university conferred honorary doctorates on Academician He Jingtang, a representative figure in the Chinese school of architecture; Professor Henry T. Yang, a world-renowned expert in structural engineering; and Professor Binglin Zhong, a well-known educationalist, in recognition of their outstanding achievements and significant contributions to society and education.
UM held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2016/2017 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall on 12 June. Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. Chui said that as a public university in Macao, UM has made considerable progress in recent years in world rankings and comprehensive competitiveness, thanks to the support of the central government and the Macao SAR government. He noted that it is very important that everyone earnestly studies and understands the messages of the important speeches made by President Xi Jinping and National People’s Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhang Dejiang during their visits to Macao, adding that these messages should serve as UM’s new guidelines on how to educate students. Therefore, an important task UM needs to fulfil in the future is to continue to produce talented and virtuous graduates to govern Macao, develop Macao’s economy, and carry on with the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy, adding that it is of great significance that UM fulfils this responsibility. The SAR government will continue to provide UM with resource- and policy-wise support as well as support in other forms. He hopes all UM members will work together with a shared goal in mind and continue to support the ‘building a better Macao through education’ strategy established by the central government and the SAR government.
UM held the Congregation 2017. UM this year graduated 1,400 students on 27 May. Chui Sai On, chief executive of Macao SAR and chancellor of UM, attended the ceremony. Chui said at the ceremony that today’s UM attaches importance to introducing high-calibre talent and actively joins the international higher education trend, adding that the university vigorously develops disciplines with potential and spares no effort in curriculum development in order to improve the quality of its education.
2016
UM on 3 December held the Ceremony for the Conferment of Honorary Degrees and Higher Degrees 2016 to confer an honorary doctorate in social sciences on the renowned educator Dr Tse Chi Wai, in recognition of his professional achievements and his outstanding contributions to higher education and society.
UM held a gala dinner to celebrate its 35th anniversary on 3 December. It is the first time the university has celebrated its anniversary on the new campus. The event was attended by government officials, prominent community members, as well as UM faculty, staff, alumni and students. In the future, UM will continue to serve students from Macao, China, and the rest of the world, promote the innovation of pedagogical model, enhance its research capabilities, and produce more outstanding graduates for society.
UM recently held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2015/2016 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall. Dr Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. He said that the university continued to make progress in academic and research activities in recent years and has gained increasing recognition and influence, with significant enhancement on its hardware and software. Dr Chui hopes that the university will use its various strengths to attract overseas-educated Macao residents to return to Macao and serve the needs of UM and the local community, in accordance with the SAR government’s talent development policy. Dr Chui added that UM’s 35th anniversary is a new starting point for the university to continue to make innovations, to strengthen communication and interaction with the local community, and to assist the government in achieving the goal of developing Macao into a service platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and a world tourism and leisure centre. Lastly, he hopes the university’s overall development will effectively increase Macao’s international competitiveness in higher education and will meet the needs of society in its future development.
UM held its Congregation 2016 on 28 May to present graduation certificates to more than 1,000 graduates. Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR and chancellor of UM, said while attending the ceremony that UM’s quality of education is continuously improving and is showing a good momentum in nurturing talent for the Macao society by relying on its improved ‘hardware’ and ‘software’, adding that the university has created necessary conditions for achieving the goal of becoming a world-class university.
2015
UM held the Ceremony for the Conferment of Honorary Degrees and Higher Degrees 2015 on 28 November. Honorary doctorates were conferred on three distinguished individuals, namely the renowned entrepreneur Mr Ma Iao Lai, the distinguished educator Prof Lap-chee Tsui, and Prof Zhong Nanshan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Division of Medical and Health Engineering. Graduation certificates were awarded to graduating students of PhD programmes, master’s programmes, and postgraduate diploma/certificate programmes. Dr Tam Chon Weng, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR and representative of the chancellor of UM, officiated at the ceremony. Tam said that UM’s education model will effectively improve the quality of education offered by the university and the quality of higher education in Macao.
A delegation from the University of Macau, led by University Council Chair Dr Lam Kam Seng, recently visited the Macao Chamber of Commerce (MCC). The delegation was warmly received by Ma Iao Lai, president of the MCC; and Kou Hoi In, president of the MCC Board of Directors.
UM recently held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2014/2015 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall. Dr Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. He said the university’s achievements are not easy to accomplish and are a result of the joint efforts of everyone. Dr Chui said that the initiatives UM has adopted in recent years, including its efforts to strengthen academic programmes, internationally recruit outstanding scholars, carry out curriculum reform, and optimise the administrative and management process, has put the university on the right track. He hopes that while continuing to improve its quality of teaching and research, UM will encourage its faculty members and students to serve the local community, promote the sustainable socio-economic development of Macao, and enhance the city’s international status.
2014
President Xi Jinping on 20 December visited the University of Macau. During his stay at UM, President Xi visited the University Gallery and one of the residential colleges and participated in the discussions of the students from that college. President Xi praised UM for its innovative university system and educational philosophy and encouraged the students to study diligently and strive to be better than their teachers.
At the Ceremony for Conferment of Honorary Degrees and Higher Degrees held on 6 December, UM conferred honorary doctorates on two Nobel laureates, namely Prof Robert C Merton and Prof Mo Yan, as well as two distinguished individuals in the field of civil engineering, namely Prof Lee Chack Fan and Ir Siu Yin Wai, in recognition of their outstanding achievements and significant contributions to society and education. PhD degrees and master’s degrees were also awarded at the ceremony. Florinda Chan, acting chief executive of the Macao SAR and representative of the chancellor of UM, officiated at the ceremony. Chan said that UM’s new campus provides a very good platform for the long-term development of UM, adding that in the long run the campus will not only benefit UM, but will improve the overall quality of higher education in Macao.
UM on 23 Aug held a convocation on the new campus to welcome more than 2,000 undergraduates and postgraduates. This is the university’s first convocation held on the new campus. In his speech UM Rector Wei Zhao noted that this year’s new students were the first to attend UM’s first convocation held on the new campus, the first to study and live on the new campus, and also the first to join UM after the eight residential colleges became operational. Rector Wei Zhao added that now that the eight residential colleges have become operational, UM will be able to better implement its “4-in-1” model of education. He encouraged the students to achieve “1, 2, and 3” during their time at UM, which is to be a good person, to find at least two mentors, and to make at least three good friends.
To celebrate this important milestone in campus development, UM held a Goodbye Old Campus Ceremony on 22 August in the small terraced garden on the old campus. Many distinguished guests attended the event, including Dr Lam Kam Seng, current chair of the University Council; Dr Tse Chi Wai, immediate past chair of the University Council; Dr Wong King Keung, co-founder of the University of East Asia (UM’s predecessor); Prof Zhou Ligao and Prof Iu Vai Pan, former rectors of UM; Prof Wei Zhao, current rector of UM; as well as students, faculty members, current staff, retired staff, and alumni.
In accordance with the Chief Executive’s Dispatch No. 221/2014 and No. 220/2014, the chief executive of the Macao SAR has appointed the University of Macau’s University Assembly (UA) members and University Council (UC) members for the new term. UM is confident that, under the leadership of the new council and assembly, the university will be able to continue to go forward. UM also expresses gratitude to Dr Tse Chi Wai, who soon retires as chair of UC, for the significant contributions he has made to UM.
UM held the Congregation 2014 on 21 June, which was attended by more than 1,000 graduates. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Cheong U, who was attending the congregation on behalf of the chief executive and UM’s chancellor, noted in his speech, “As an important university in Macao, UM plays a pivotal role in the advancement of local higher education.” He added: “the government of the Macao SAR will, as always, support UM– which is now progressing along the right track – to scale new heights.”
