UM, Tsinghua University jointly hold workshop on traditional Chinese medicine and immunology research

The University of Macau (UM) and Tsinghua University jointly held a week-long Traditional Chinese Medicine and Immunology Research Workshop. Led by Director Chen Xin, Associate Professor Lu Jiahong, and Assistant Professor Chou Chon Kit at the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) of the University of Macau (UM), 12 UM students engaged in academic exchanges with students and faculty at Tsinghua University and discussed the direction of future cooperation.

UM students and faculty were warmly welcomed by Professors Xu Xiaoyu and Shi Yan, and Associate Professors Zeng Wenwen, Guo Xiaohuan, and Liu Zhihua in the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University. The two parties gave an overview of their respective faculty, teaching quality, research platforms and research direction. They also held the Seminar on Traditional Chinese Medicine, Natural Products and Immunology, laying the foundation for further collaboration between the two universities in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and immunology.

In addition, Professors Chen, Lu, and Chou were invited to share their research findings on the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on the immune and nervous systems. Among them, Prof Chen shared the discovery process of a new immune regulation target inspired by the traditional Chinese medicine theory in the Huangdi Neijing. The three UM professors also served as examiners for the final examination of the course ‘Critical Thinking in Immunology’, which is part of the doctoral programme offered by the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University.

During the workshop, PhD students from both universities shared their research progress and attended special courses such as ‘The Power of Vaccines’, ‘Frontier Biomedical Sciences’, and ‘Introduction to Basic Medicine and Diseases’. UM students and faculty also visited Changping Laboratory and biotechnology companies such as SineuGene and BriSTAR Immunotech to gain deeper insights into cutting-edge technologies in the field of medicine and health.

The workshop was organised by the Department of Basic Medical Sciences of the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University under the guidance of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Affairs at Tsinghua University. Themed ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine and Immunology’, the workshop featured field studies, talks by experts, and group discussions. It also received support from the Ten Thousand Talents Program 2023, which was launched by the Ministry of Education to foster exchange programmes between mainland and Hong Kong/Macao students.

Moreover, the delegation from ICMS visited the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Peking University. They held in-depth discussions with Dean Ye Min, Vice Deans Huang Zhuo and Wang Yiguang, as well as their team on potential research collaboration and the joint training of pharmacology professionals.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/campus-news/detail/57529/

UM holds Open Day in Macao and Hengqin, showcasing its vision and development direction

The University of Macau (UM) held its open day event today (14 January). Titled ‘UM Open Day 2024: Connecting Macao and Hengqin’, this year’s Open Day was held in both Macao and Hengqin for the first time, showcasing the latest achievements of the university and the Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute (ZUMRI) in teaching and research, talent cultivation, and industry-academia collaboration. The event attracted many students, parents, members of the public and visitors, who came to learn about the admission information, education model, and campus culture of the university. Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said that the Open Day is a manifestation of UM’s vision and development direction, and the university plans to establish a new campus in Hengqin.

The Open Day was held from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Song said that the Open Day this year enabled visitors to visit both the UM campus and ZUMRI, which is a manifestation of the university’s vision and development direction: being firmly rooted in Macao, jointly developing the Greater Bay Area, integrating with the nation, and going global. In line with the Macao SAR Government’s ‘1+4’ strategy for economic diversification and the development needs of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the country, UM will offer several new degree programmes in the next academic year, including Master of Fine Arts, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Doctor of Fine Arts, and Doctor of Public Health. In addition, the university plans to establish a new campus in Hengqin to offer programmes in medicine, new engineering, microelectronics, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantitative business analytics. It has also received approval for the establishment of the UM Advanced Research Institute in Hengqin, which will further promote industry-academia collaboration. UM will continue to align with the Macao SAR Government’s strategies and the needs of the country, thus contributing to the resolution of the common problems facing mankind.

The theme of this year’s UM Open Day is ‘Connecting Macao and Hengqin’. Various faculties, residential colleges, the library and the sports complex on the UM campus, as well as ZUMRI in Hengqin were open to the public. Through on-site consultations, academic talks and exhibitions, visitors were able to learn about the degree programmes, residential college system, and latest achievements of UM. The university also aimed to provide prospective students an insight into their preferred programmes and the living environment at UM through the Open Day, thus helping them plan for their further studies.

A student from the Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School said that the rich academic atmosphere and well-equipped teaching facilities at UM make her look forward to university life and becoming a member of UM. A parent from Hengqin came to visit UM to learn more about the degree programmes and educational philosophy of the university. She said that UM is an international university with many renowned scholars from all over the world. She hopes that her children will study at UM and become a talented person with a global mindset and international competitiveness.

In addition, the Open Day event offered a wide range of activities such as sports activities, car racing metaverse, workshops, science experiments, performances, booth games, and ‘A Day at UM’ campus tours. Through these activities, participants experienced campus life first-hand and gained a deeper understanding of UM’s latest developments. The event was also livestreamed so that those unable to join in person could participate remotely.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57512/

UM launches Master of Science in Business Analytics programme to drive data-driven development in business sector

The University of Macau (UM) will offer the Master of Science (MSc) in Business Analytics programme in the 2024/2025 academic year. The programme aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to make data-driven decisions in the business sector. Combining a solid foundation in business principles and cutting-edge analytics techniques, it will empower graduates to extract valuable insights from vast amounts of data to support strategic decision-making.

Zhang Wenyang, chair professor in the Faculty of Business Administration and programme coordinator of the MSc in Business Analytics programme, said that the ability to leverage data for informed decision-making, improved efficiency, and sustainable growth is highly valued in all industries. Graduates of the MSc in Business Analytics programme will have access to a wide range of career opportunities. They can take on roles as business analysts, data scientists, analytics consultants, and data strategists in finance, healthcare, e-commerce, consulting, or other industries.

The MSc in Business Analytics programme is a two-year programme. By combining rigorous analytical training with business acumen, the programme aims to develop well-rounded professionals who are capable of solving complex business problems. Students will also delve into the fields of statistical analysis, data mining, predictive modelling, machine learning, and optimisation. They will gain proficiency in programming languages and tools commonly used in the business sector and will be able to manipulate and visualise data effectively. In addition, they will learn how to use data to identify market trends, optimise operations, enhance customer experience, and drive innovation in organisations.

The programme places a strong emphasis on practical applications and experiential learning. Students will engage in real-world projects, case studies, and internships, where they will gain hands-on experience and learn how to solve real-world business challenges through collaboration with industry partners. This will not only enhance their technical skills but also hone their ability to communicate complex findings to different stakeholders effectively. On completion of the programme, students will be equipped with business knowledge, analytical expertise, and practical experience, as well as the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the data-driven economy.

Applications for the MSc in Business Analytics programme are now open. For online applications and admission guidelines, please visit the Graduate School website at https://grs.um.edu.mo/index.php/prospective-students/. For enquiries, please call 8822 4898 during office hours or email gradschool@um.edu.mo.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57504/

UM, ULisboa jointly hold seminar on 30th anniversary of promulgation of Basic Law

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, the Faculty of Law (FLL) of the University of Macau (UM), the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (ULisboa), and the Macau Science and Culture Centre in Portugal jointly held a seminar titled ‘30 Years of the Macau SAR Basic Law’ on the day of the 24th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. During the seminar, Lai Kuan Ju, research assistant professor in FLL, introduced to the attendees the efforts made by the Macao SAR in enhancing the approaches and efficiency of the systematic teaching of the Constitution and the Basic Law over the past decade through the collaboration between the government (Education and Youth Development Bureau), the community (Macao Basic Law Promotion Association), and the university (Centre for Constitutional Law and Basic Law Studies of UM’s FLL). The Portuguese representatives fully recognised the fundamental role played by the Basic Law in safeguarding Macao’s prosperity and stability, as well as the fruitful outcomes made in national education by the Macao SAR. They added that China and Portugal have maintained a relationship characterised by mutual understanding, mutual trust, and mutual benefit, which is a model of win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57464/

UM launches Doctor of Public Health programme to nurture global public health professionals

The University of Macau (UM) will offer the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) programme in the 2024/2025 academic year. The programme, which combines traditional public health, hospital management, and medicinal administration, aims to nurture more professionals in public health and related fields to make greater contributions to the healthcare sector in Macao, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and global community.

Xiang Yutao, head of the Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration of UM’s Faculty of Health Sciences, said that public health is a multidisciplinary field that aims to improve population health by preventing disease and improving quality of life. The DrPH programme aims to train health professionals with leadership skills. Graduates will be able to leverage innovative thinking to translate what they have learned into practical approaches and apply them to specific areas such as public health, hospital management, and medicinal administration. They will also become future decision-makers and facilitators who will make contributions to the field of global public health.

The DrPH programme is a three-year programme. It covers prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, clinical medicine, and the study of basic sciences. It also involves interdisciplinary fields such as epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, nutrition, food safety, social medicine, and management of health services. The programme also focuses on population health, health systems, chronic diseases, and the impact of and recovery from public health emergencies.

Applications for the DrPH programme are now open. For online registration and admission guidelines, please visit the Graduate School website: https://grs.um.edu.mo/index.php/prospective-students/. For enquiries, please call 8822 4898 during office hours or email gradschool@um.edu.mo.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57456/

UM offers training course in Constitution and Basic Law and holds talk on Patriotic Education Law

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, the University of Macau (UM) held the opening ceremony of the third training course in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR for faculty and staff members of residential colleges and a talk on the Patriotic Education Law. The events aimed to improve faculty and staff members’ understanding of the two laws and strengthen their sense of patriotism. In his speech, Vice Rector Mok Kai Meng said that UM attaches great importance to cultivating students’ patriotism and affection for the country. He highlighted the residential college system as an important platform for the university to undertake such endeavours, adding that it is crucial to enhance the understanding and practice of patriotism among the faculty and staff members of residential colleges. During the talk, Lok Wai Kin, professor in the Faculty of Law, introduced the Patriotic Education Law and explained its importance, functions, main content, as well as its relevance to the daily work of the faculty and staff members. To date, the course has offered training to about 60 faculty and staff members of residential colleges, including the college masters, associate masters, fellows, and administrative staff.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/campus-news/detail/57448/

UM journal South China Quarterly included in CSSCI

South China Quarterly (SCQ), an arts journal edited and published by the University of Macau (UM), has recently been included in the Chinese Social Science Citation Index (CSSCI) (2023-2024), recognising its significance in academia.

CSSCI is a humanities and social sciences citation database developed by the Institute for Chinese Social Sciences Research and Assessment of Nanjing University. It employs bibliometrics and a combined quantitative and qualitative approach to select high-quality and well-edited journals from over 2,700 Chinese journals in the humanities and social sciences. CSSCI plays a crucial role in supporting academic research at domestic and international universities and research institutions, exerting substantial influence within the academic and journal communities in China. Since 2023, CSSCI has also started to include academic journals published by universities and research institutions in Macao, indicating the recognition of Macao-based academic journals by the mainland academic and journal communities.

SCQ is a comprehensive journal that focuses on academic theories in the humanities and social sciences. It adheres to the publishing principle of ‘focusing on humanities, touching upon inter-disciplinarity and transcending beyond boundaries’. The journal targets researchers and readers interested in the humanities and social science worldwide. It covers global and regional issues, including those specific to China. SCQ not only provides a global perspective on the East and China, but also offers an Eastern perspective on global issues. Since its establishment, SCQ has been committed to publishing articles characterised by a writing style that features substantial contents, refreshing format, distinctive perspectives, and profound discourse. It aims to continuously discover high-quality scholarly contributions and disseminate pioneering knowledge in the humanities. SCQ strives to become a benchmark, flagship, influential and internationally recognised Chinese academic journal in the Greater China region. Before listed as a CSSCI source journal, SCQ had already gained recognition among established scholars, who are attracted to contribute their articles to its publication. Moreover, SCQ has strengthened its internal and external editorial system, placing a strong emphasis on external peer review and internal executive editing. These efforts have resulted in a more stable source of high-quality submissions.

In April this year, SCQ was included in the ‘2022 High Reproduction Rate Journal List of Reproduction and Transcription Journals’ by the Information Center for Social Sciences of Renmin University of China. It was specifically recognised as a journal with high transcription rates and indices in the categories of ‘Comprehensive Humanities and Social Sciences Journals’, ‘Humanities and Social Science Journals Published by Higher Education Institutions’, ‘Journals in History’, and ‘Journals in Chinese History’. Prior to this, SCQ had already been included in the ‘Important Source Journal List of Reproduction and Transcription Journals’ twice (in the 2017 and 2020 editions).

SCQ is also indexed in National Social Sciences Database (www.nssd.cn) and Chao Xing Journals (https://qikan.chaoxing.com/), both of which provide full-text coverage. SCQ is accessible on the website of UM’s Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences: https://ias.um.edu.mo/scq/.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57421/

Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology of UM holds its first Academic Committee meeting, academicians and scholars at home and abroad recognise its achievements

The Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology (FSCPO) of the University of Macau (UM) held its first Academic Committee meeting. A number of academicians and research experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the US National Academy of Sciences and other prestigious institutions listened to FSCPO’s reports and offered advice to the centre. In addition, during the meeting with UM Rector Yonghua Song, members of the Academic Committee highly praised FSCPO for its outstanding achievements. They emphasised the remarkable and groundbreaking progress the centre has made in cancer research, and its ability to produce high-quality research within just over two years since its establishment.

The conference was held at UM in a hybrid format. Members of the Academic Committee listened to reports on the establishment of research platforms in FSCPO, its operation and management, research output quality, and talent cultivation strategies since its establishment in December 2020. The Academic Committee is made up of Nobel laureate in Chemistry Aaron Ciechanover, Prof Dennis Lo Yuk Ming, Prof Li Lanjuan, Prof Chen Yeguang, Prof Chen Runsheng, Prof Zhan Qimin, Prof Wang Xiao-Fan, Prof John Mekalanos, Prof Xu Tian, Prof Yu Dihua, Prof Kang Yibin, Prof Cheng Yung-Chi, as well as UM Chair Professors Wang Yitao, Tang Zikang, and Chuxia Deng.

In his speech, UM Vice Rector Ge Wei said that UM has continuously improved the quality of its faculty, teaching, and research, resulting in notable achievements in promoting regional and international cooperation, research innovation, and industry-academia collaboration, as well as substantial enhancement of its international reputation. He added that it is encouraging to see UM making its debut among the top 200 universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. Additionally, 12 subjects offered by the university have entered the top 1 per cent of the Essential Science Indicators (ESI).

Chuxia Deng, dean of UM’s Faculty of Health Sciences and chief scientist of FSCPO, presented a comprehensive report on the progress made by the centre, including the background of its establishment, main research directions, representative academic achievements, formation of the research team, and talent cultivation. He said that on the basis of the solid foundations of UM, FSCPO has carried out in-depth research in four directions, namely the onset and development of cancer, tumour microenvironment and immune regulation, cancer metastasis and drug resistance mechanisms, and efficient drug development and personalised cancer treatment, by making use of the research platforms. The centre aims to improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of cancer and provide cancer patients with high-end, customised, and personalised precision medicine diagnosis, prevention, and treatment options.

During the conclusion section, the Academic Committee members expressed their expectations for FSCPO to continue to strengthen research in areas of advantage. They also emphasised the need to pursue pioneering basic research, particularly through enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration. They also proposed the establishment of joint centres with other institutions and the enhancement of clinical research capabilities to complement basic research, thereby stimulating more interdisciplinary research. Additionally, they suggested incorporating other technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to enrich the research content.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57410/

UM science talks broaden local secondary school students’ horizons in cutting-edge biomedical technologies

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) of the University of Macau (UM) held science talks at Yuet Wah College with the aim of sparking secondary school students’ interest in scientific research and enabling them to gain in-depth knowledge of the latest biomedical technologies. Poon Chuen Wai, Lee Tsz On, and Xie Ruiyu, associate professors in FHS, gave science talks on cutting-edge biomedical technologies to more than 350 secondary school students. The students actively engaged in the Q&A session and interacted with the speakers.

Prof Poon gave a talk titled ‘The Impact of Biotechnology on Healthcare in the 21st Century’. He began his talk with the health problems of the Macao population and highlighted the important role of biomedical big data analysis in healthcare in the 21st century. He pointed out that as technology continues to advance, biotechnology and big data in health play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. He shared with the students some of the latest research findings and treatment strategies, and emphasised the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of healthcare.

Prof Lee delivered a talk titled ‘What is RNA Therapy? Its History and Infinite Future’. He first briefly introduced the principles and history of RNA therapy, before discussing its great potential in the field of cancer treatment. He also pointed out the challenges faced by current RNA therapy strategies, including how to effectively deliver RNA to specific targets and the safety concerns of long-term therapy. He added that these challenges require further extensive research by scientists. In addition, he encouraged students to consider pursuing further studies in related fields in the future.

In her talk titled ‘Diseases Grown in Petri Dishes—Can Stem Cells Do It’, Prof Xie discussed organoid, a preclinical model of human disease, and highlighted the unique role of stem cells in drug screening and therapy. She pointed out that stem cells can self-renew and differentiate into different cell types. These cells group together and are spatially organised into organ-like tissues to acquire the specific function of an organ. Stem cell-derived organoids have begun to be used in clinical practice as a novel means to identify targeted drugs and treat patients with rare mutations in cystic fibrosis. Through her insightful presentation, Prof Xie further talked about the potential breakthroughs that stem cell therapy may bring and underscored the expectations of the academic and medical community in this field.

FHS’s science talks aim to spark students’ interest in scientific research, enable them to have a deeper understanding of the latest technologies in biomedical sciences, and fuel their passion for science. In addition to regular science talks, the faculty also organises a series of science outreach activities for local secondary school students, including ‘The Pursuit of Research’, the Health Sciences Summer Camp, and a one-day camp for students under the Principals’ Recommended Admission Scheme. These activities are in line with FHS’ philosophy of pursuing sustainable development of scientific research, promoting the close integration of science popularisation and education, enhancing local secondary school students’ interest in science, fostering their passion for science, and guiding them to pursue their dreams as a scientist.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57403/