On Saturday morning, 29^th March, 2025, a small delegation of MCM College staff and students travelled to Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus, to take part in an invitational student forum. BNU Zhuhai is a comprehensive, research-oriented, world-class university with Chinese characteristic and leading teacher education. Its location as a southern campus of the same level as Beijing campus, has developed and progressed “One University, Two Campuses”.  

The forum was jointly organized by School of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Bay Area International Business School, Future Design College, and Huitong College. Members of the academic panel included distinguished professors: Ouyang Wei; Qin Wei; Liu Lanfang; and Fang Qile.

The theme was based on an “Interdisciplinary Integration and Innovative Development” in which students from diverse faculties addressed professors and student peers presented research.  Dai Lijuan, a doctoral student from University of Macau and resident tutor of MCM College, represented MCM College as the inaugural student speaker of the forum. Her presentation focused on the application of empirical research and neuroimaging in the study of human decision-making process.

The forum offered an impressive insight to the higher levels of research interests and methodology, allowing students and professors to engage in further discussions during the interval, as well as inviting questions from the audience before the forum concluded.

Delegates of MCM College were invited to a sumptuous lunch with staff and students at one of several campus dining outlets. This was followed by an eye-opening scenic campus tour, and a visit to Huitong College, which is a reflection of talent cultivation, vision and advocates Chinese and Western cultures whilst integrating ancient and modern knowledge through arts and science. It is one of the first three colleges established at BNU Zhuhai.

Finally, the delegation bid farewell to their gracious hosts, and returned to Macao.

I was deeply inspired by the forum on “Cross-disciplinary Integration and Innovative Development”. Through keynote speeches, students’ sharing and achievements presentation, the forum made me deeply realize that cross-discipline is not only an academic trend, but also the key to solving complex problems. Prof. Ouyang Wei emphasized the importance of cross-disciplinary thinking by taking his own scientific research experience as an example, while the speeches of the student representatives showed me how cross-disciplinary practice can broaden horizons and stimulate innovation. In particular, the exchanges with faculty and students of the University of Macau made me feel the enthusiasm of the youth of the Greater Bay Area to jointly explore the frontier and cooperate for win-win results. The event made me realize that innovation is often born at the intersection of disciplines. In the future, I will take my major as the foundation, actively embrace interdisciplinary learning, develop problem-solving skills in practice, and strive to become a new-age talent with both professional depth and cross-border vision. –Su Xiao, Year 1

Through this exchange activity, I witnessed the unique college system and the 3-in-1 education model of BNU Zhuhai which broadened my horizons; during the exchange activity, I also listened to the reports of the students of BNU and communicated with them in-depth, and I felt their dispersed thinking and rich professional knowledge, and the topic of the research also gave me great inspiration; after this, I also visited their campus, and experienced the cultural atmosphere.  Finally, it was a very meaningful activity and I learned a lot from it. –Sun Haoran, Year 1