Member of Chinese Academy of Engineering gives talk on digitalisation of civil engineering at UM

As part of the University Lecture Series, the University of Macau (UM) held a talk titled ‘From Civil Engineering to Civil-Informatics Engineering—The Opportunities for the Fourth Leap of Civil Engineering’ today (4 December). Zhu Hehua, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Distinguished Professor at Tongji University, was the speaker.

Xu Cheng-Zhong, dean of UM’s Faculty of Science and Technology, said that Prof Zhu, as a world-leading expert in digital tunnelling and underground engineering, was highly regarded by the academic community for his expertise in the mathematical theories of differential geometry and general relativity. He also founded Underground Space, China’s first English-language scientific journal in the field of underground engineering. The journal is among the most influential journals in civil engineering (SCI-Q1) and is the only journal from China ranked among the top 10 per cent of journals in the field.

During the talk, Prof Zhu discussed the insights gained from the first three leaps in civil engineering, before delving into the potential of digital empowerment in civil engineering. He also analysed the roadmap for the transformation of civil engineering into civil-informatics engineering. In addition, Prof Zhu actively interacted with the audience in the Q&A and discussion session.

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/57288/

UM graduates more than 1,500 postgraduate students　　

Ao Ieong U: UM has achieved remarkable results in its developments

The University of Macau (UM) today (2 December) held the Ceremony for the Conferment of Higher Degrees 2023. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U, acting as the representative of the chief executive of the Macao SAR and UM chancellor, said that UM has achieved remarkable results in various fields and its international reputation has continued to grow. This year, more than 1,500 students graduated from the university’s doctoral programmes, master’s degree programmes, and postgraduate certificate/diploma programmes.

Secretary Ao Ieong officiated at the ceremony in the company of UM University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng Peter, Rector Yonghua Song, Vice Rectors Michael Hui, Rui Martins, Ge Wei, Mok Kai Meng, and Xu Jian. Members 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. In addition, live broadcast areas were set up on campus and live streaming was available for families and friends of graduates to watch the ceremony.

In her speech, Secretary Ao Ieong said that UM has actively implemented the higher education policies of the Macao SAR Government. The university has continuously improved the quality of its faculty, teaching, and research, and achieved significant results in expanding regional and international cooperation, fostering research innovation, and promoting industry-academia collaboration. As a result, UM’s international reputation has been growing steadily. It is worth noting that UM has made an impressive debut in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024, securing the 193rd position and placing it among the top 200 universities worldwide. The Macao SAR Government will support local public institutions, including UM, to explore favourable development opportunities in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and further support higher education to replenish the talent pool for the development of key industries in Macao. She also encouraged the graduates to demonstrate their love and commitment to the country and Macao, and put into practice UM’s motto ‘humanity, integrity, propriety, wisdom, and sincerity’, so as to contribute their wisdom and strength to the robustness of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the advancement of human civilisation.

In his speech, Rector Song said: ‘UM has successfully adapted to the evolving demands of the new era and positioned itself at the forefront of global higher education. The university has also proactively expanded its network of international collaborations, resulting in continuous improvement in education standards and academic impact, which has propelled UM towards its goal of becoming an internationally recognised university of excellence. Capitalising on the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the university has been actively formulating strategies to advance research and innovation, and foster industry-academia collaborations. UM’s industry-academia demonstration base in Hengqin has also achieved positive progress.’ Rector Song welcomed the encouraging results achieved by teams of UM faculty and students in research and development. Some of these achievements have already been put to use, making contributions to the development of the health and the high-tech industries in the Greater Bay Area. He also offered three pieces of advice to the graduates: ‘First, rise up to difficulties and dare to tread a challenging path. Second, utilise what you have learned and never cease to innovate. Third, aim high and take on responsibilities.’

In her speech, Lei I Teng, representative of this year’s graduates, expressed gratitude to her parents and professors. She said: ‘There were times when we doubted ourselves after receiving an unsatisfactory grade, felt lost when our efforts went unappreciated, and experienced the distress of failure when we made mistakes. But let us remember and be proud of who we are. As graduates of UM, we will uphold the virtues the university has taught us. We, are the MAX UMers who always maximise our potential and strive for the best.’ She also extended her encouragement to other graduates, wishing them to maintain their passion, positivity, and courage in the face of adversity.

This year, a total of 1,527 postgraduate students graduated from UM’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, and Institute of Microelectronics. Among these graduates, 293 are from doctoral programmes, 1,184 are from master’s degree programmes, and 50 are from postgraduate certificate/diploma programmes.

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/57275/

Ching-Ping Wong gives talk at UM on potential of polymers for electronic applications

The University of Macau (UM) held a Doctor honoris causa Lecture today (2 December). Ching-Ping Wong, honorary doctor of UM, gave a talk titled ‘Polymers and Nano Materials for Electronic Application’ to discuss the applications and potential of polymers and nanomaterials. The event attracted UM faculty members and students, local secondary school teachers and students, industry practitioners, as well as prominent members of the community.

According to Dean of UM’s Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Xu Cheng-Zhong, Prof Wong, as one of the pioneers of plastic packaging technology, has fundamentally transformed the semiconductor packaging technology, pioneering the use of new materials ranging from polymers to nanomaterials and achieving remarkable cost efficiency. His groundbreaking innovations have made great contributions to academia, industry, and society. Prof Wong’s research achievements and projects are at the forefront of the international scene and have been highly recognised and appreciated by people from different sectors of the community.

During the talk, Prof Wong shared his research findings and the wide range of applications of polymers and nanomaterials in the field of electronics. He highlighted how he developed new materials such as polymers and nanomaterials, and how he overcame the challenges posed by traditional ceramic packaging, such as heavy weight, technical complexity, and high cost. The plastic packaging technology he developed has been adopted by many international enterprises and holds a market share of more than 95 per cent in the global integrated circuit packaging market. In addition, Prof Wong encouraged young people to seize opportunities and dare to try. He also actively interacted with the audience during the Q&A and discussion session, which was moderated by Tang Zikang, director of UM’s Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering.

The talk provided an important learning and exchange platform for UM students, faculty, and industry practitioners. Through Prof Wong’s talk and sharing, the university hopes to boost students’ interest and passion for cutting-edge research fields such as polymers and nanomaterials, and to present a model for research and technological innovation, thereby promoting academic innovation and the cultivation of technology talent in Macao.

Those attending the talk also included UM University Council Vice Chair Huen Wing Ming and his wife, Vice Rectors Michael Hui and Rui Martins, and Prof Franco Maloberti, one of the other honorary doctors.

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/57278/

UM, UN Commission hold 10th anniversary joint conference

The University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Law (FLL) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (UNCITRAL-RCAP) today (1 December) held their 10th anniversary joint conference titled ‘National and Regional Harmonisation of International Trade Law: A Decade in Retrospect and the Desiderata of the Future’, where landmark developments in the harmonisation of international trade law in the past decade and future needs were discussed.

Since 2014, UM FLL and UNCITRAL-RCAP have jointly held nine high-level international conferences and one international legal symposium. This year’s conference featured a keynote address by Zhao Hong, professor in the Law School of Peking University and former chairperson of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization, and addresses by experts and scholars from Australia, Italy, Portugal, South Korea, Sweden, the US, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao on the harmonisation of international trade law.

The conference covered various contemporary topics about legal harmonisation, including data property and data contracts, global data governance and China, UNCITRAL agenda on alternative dispute resolution, court-ordered interim measures arrangements and their regional impacts on the promotion of arbitral seats, judicial support for commercial arbitration in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), determining credibility in online arbitration hearings and the importance in-person witness enquiry, consensual settlement of competition disputes in China and conditional arbitrability, Macao arbitration in the new era and its current status and reforms, UNCITRAL’s efforts in promoting micro, small, and medium enterprises and gender equality in access to business, UNCITRAL and the spontaneous harmonisation of legal standards, UNCITRAL expedited arbitration rules, investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) reforms and renewable energy disputes, ontological turn in judicial sales of ships, competing or complementary modes of New York Arbitration Convention and Hague Judgments Convention for cross-border disputes, the development of investment dispute resolution under the Belt and Road Initiative, the establishment of an investment dispute settlement regime in the GBA, United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and smart contracts, autonomous contracts and the role of artificial intelligence in producing smart contracts, artificial intelligence and regulation, as well as international and regional unification and harmonisation of legislation on public-private partnerships.

In addition, on the basis of the experiences and adoption of harmonised legal standards at national and regional levels, this year’s conference reviewed and evaluated the evolution of legal harmonisation in the past decade and the future needs of UNCITRAL in various fields of trade law. A comprehensive review was also undertaken to address the key challenges in legal harmonisation in international trade and international initiatives. These efforts will pave the way for governments and UNCITRAL to develop appropriate measures to effectively overcome the obstacles encountered in the adoption and establishment of harmonised legal standards for governing international trade.

The conference was supported by the World Trade Center Macau Arbitration Center, Shanghai Arbitration Commission, and China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) Hong Kong Arbitration Center. Guests attending the opening ceremony included Athita Komindr, head of UNCITRAL-RCAP; Vong Sok Hei, secretary general of the World Trade Center Macau Arbitration Center; Fan Mingchao, executive vice president of Shanghai Arbitration Commission; Brad Wang, deputy secretary general of CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center; Ng In Cheong, head of the International and Inter-Regional Law Department of the Legal Affairs Bureau, Macao SAR Government; Oriana Inácio Pun, secretary general of the Macao Lawyers Association and president of the Macao Lawyers Association Arbitration Centre; Rostam J Neuwirth, head of the Department of Global Legal Studies of UM’s Faculty of Law (FLL); and Muruga Perumal Ramaswamy, associate professor in FLL.

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/57274/

A UM e a Comissão das Nações Unidas realizam a conferência conjunta do 10º aniversário para debater o passado, o presente e o futuro da harmonização do direito comercial internacional e os esforços da CNUDCI

No dia 2 de decembro de 2022, a Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Macau (UM) e o Centro Regional da Comissão das Nações Unidas para o Direito Comercial Internacional Centro Regional para a Ásia e o Pacífico (RCAP da CNUDCI) realizaram a conferência do 10º aniversário intitulada “Harmonização Nacional e Regional do Direito Comercial Internacional: Uma Década em Retrospetiva e os Desideratos do Futuro” para discutir os desenvolvimentos marcantes na harmonização do direito comercial internacional na última década e as necessidades do futuro, especialmente à luz das experiências nacionais e regionais.

Este é o 10º ano das conferências conjuntas co-organizadas pela Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Macau e pela RCAP da CNUDCI. Desde 2014, as duas instituições realizaram com sucesso nove conferências internacionais de alto nível e um simpósio jurídico internacional. Durante o evento, especialistas e académicos de diferentes países e regiões, incluindo Austrália, Hong Kong, Itália, Macau, República Popular da China, Portugal, Coreia do Sul, Suécia e EUA, abordaram questões jurídicas e de harmonização no comércio internacional. O discurso de abertura da conferência do 10º aniversário foi proferido por Zhao Hong, professor de Direito da Universidade de Pequim e ex-presidente do Órgão de Recurso da Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC). As deliberações da conferência abrangeram vários tópicos contemporâneos na harmonização de leis, incluindo propriedade de dados e contratos de dados, governação global de dados e China, agenda da CNUDCI sobre resolução alternativa de litígios, medidas provisórias ordenadas pelo tribunal e os seus impactos regionais na promoção de sedes arbitrais, apoio judicial à arbitragem comercial na área da Grande Baía, determinação da credibilidade nas audiências de arbitragem em linha e a importância da inquirição de testemunhas presenciais, resolução consensual de litígios em matéria de concorrência na China e arbitrabilidade, arbitragem de Macau na nova era e o seu estado atual e reformas, trabalho da CNUDCI na promoção das MPME e da igualdade de género no acesso às empresas, A CNUDCI e a harmonização das normas jurídicas, as regras de arbitragem expedita da CNUDCI, as reformas do ISDS e os litígios em matéria de energias renováveis, a viragem ontológica nas vendas judiciais de navios, os modos concorrentes ou complementares da Convenção de Arbitragem de Nova Iorque e da Convenção de Haia para a resolução de litígios transfronteiriços, o desenvolvimento da resolução de litígios em matéria de investimento no âmbito da BRI, a criação de um regime de resolução de litígios em matéria de investimento no âmbito da Área da Grande Baía, a CISG e os contratos inteligentes, os contratos autónomos e o efeito da inteligência artificial na produção de contratos inteligentes, a inteligência artificial e a regulamentação e a unificação e harmonização internacional e regional da legislação relativa às parcerias público-privadas.

A conferência deste ano tem como objetivo fazer um balanço da evolução da harmonização jurídica na última década e avaliar as necessidades futuras em vários domínios do trabalho da CNUDCI em matéria de direito comercial. A revisão das necessidades passadas e futuras da harmonização jurídica do direito comercial foi avaliada principalmente à luz das experiências nacionais e regionais, bem como da sua adoção de normas jurídicas harmonizadas. Espera-se que a ampla revisão das questões críticas enfrentadas pela harmonização jurídica no comércio internacional e nas iniciativas internacionais abra caminho para o desenvolvimento de medidas de resposta relevantes no futuro por parte dos governos nacionais e da CNUDCI para abordar eficazmente quaisquer barreiras enfrentadas pela adoção e desenvolvimento de normas jurídicas harmonizadas que regem o comércio internacional.

Entre os convidados presentes na cerimónia de abertura encontravam-se Athita Komindr; chefe do RCAP da CNUDCI; Zhao Hong, Professor do Direito da Universidade de Pequim e antigo Presidente do Órgão de Recurso da Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC), Rosita Vong Sok Hei, secretária geral do Centro de Comércio Mundial de Macau, Fan Mingchao, vice-presidente executivo da Comissão de Arbitragem de Xangai (China); Brad Wang, vice-secretário geral, CIETAC Centro de Arbitragem de Hong Kong; Rostam J Neuwirth, diretor do Departamento de Estudos Jurídicos Globais da FLL, Chefe do Dept. dos Assuntos do Direito Internacional e Direito Inter-Regional Ng In Cheong, Oriana Inácio Pun, Secretário-Geral da Associação dos Advogados de Macau, e Muruga Perumal Ramaswamy, professor associado na FLL. A conferência foi apoiada pelo World Trade Center Macau Arbitration Center e pela Comissão de Arbitram de Xangai.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/pt-pt/news-and-press-releases/campus-news/detail/57274/

UM and other universities in GBA receive national and Guangdong education achievement awards for their MOOC-based collective development model

The University of Macau (UM) and the participating universities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Universities Online Open Course Alliance received a second prize of the National Education Achievement Award by the Ministry of Education, and a first prize of the 10th Guangdong Education Achievement Award (Higher Education) by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province for their implementation of the massive online open course (MOOC) based collective development model.

The participating universities, which include UM, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sun Yat-Sen University, South China University of Technology, South China Normal University, and Southern Medical University, offer various types of online open courses through the MOOC-based collective development model. The model aims to promote the recognition of credits for online open courses within and between universities, facilitate the integration of online and offline teaching, and enable the sharing of quality teaching and learning resources. Katrine Wong, director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning Enhancement, received the award on behalf of UM.

Established in 2018, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Universities Online Open Course Alliance focuses on developing quality online open courses, establishing an interconnected online open course platform, and providing free online open courses to enhance the public’s science and cultural literacy.

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/57273/

William Shiyuan Wang gives talk at UM on evolution of Homo sapiens

The University of Macau held a Doctor honoris cause Lecture today (1 December). Prof William Shiyuan Wang, honorary doctor of UM, gave a talk titled ‘SAPIENS—a Journey of 6 Million Years’. Referencing findings from fields such as anthropology, archaeology, genetics, and cognitive neuroscience, Prof Wang examined the six-million-year evolution of Homo sapiens and engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics such as the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The event attracted many UM faculty and students, as well as people from different sectors of the community.

Prof Wang is a world-renowned linguist, a chair professor of language and cognitive science at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and an academician of the Academia Sinica in Taiwan. He started the talk by explaining how Homo sapiens evolved to become the dominant species on Earth, and pointed out that humans and chimpanzees, who are both part of the primate order, diverged around six million years ago, leading to the transition to bipedalism in humans. This shift resulted in two critical changes: first, the freeing of the hands, which facilitated tool creation and subsequently encouraged an increase in brain size and neural complexity; second, the development of language, which significantly improved communication. As such, humans have relied on both biological and cultural evolution to accelerate the spread of innovation throughout their evolutionary history, ultimately becoming the masters of the planet.

Referring to the rapid growth and increasing maturity of AI technology, Prof Wang said that although AI is powerful, people should not overlook its potential risks. He suggested that people should pay more attention to new disciplines in the humanities, deepen their understanding of human nature, including cognition, emotions, and moral values, which can help mitigate the risks and temptations associated with AI. In this way, humans and machines will coexist in harmony and join hands to foster creation.

The event was moderated by Andrew Moody, head of the Department of English of UM’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH). Xu Jie, dean of FAH and director of the Centre for Linguistics, presented UM souvenirs to Prof Wang at the end of the engaging lecture.

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/57272/

Delegation from Hainan provincial government visits UM to promote cooperation between universities in Hainan and Macao

Feng Fei, secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, led a delegation to visit the University of Macau (UM) today (30 November) and was received by Yonghua Song, rector of UM. At the University Gallery, Song introduced to the delegation UM’s academic layout and research development, as well as the four elements that make UM a unique university, namely its location in a special administrative region, its special mission, its special status, and its unique model of education. The delegation also visited the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine to gain a better understanding of the university’s achievements in innovative Chinese medicine research in recent years. Feng praised UM for its rapid development in recent years and expressed hope that the university will expand its cooperation with higher education institutions and companies in Hainan.

In addition, the Education Department of Hainan Province held a seminar on education cooperation and exchange between Hainan province and the Macao SAR, where representatives of the two parties held in-depth discussions on topics such as enhancing cooperation between higher education institutions in the two places. Song expressed hope that Hainan and Macao will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and jointly promote the cultivation of high-calibre talent for the sustainable development of both places.

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/57269/

UM honorary doctorate Cai Fang to give talk on China’s economic growth

The University of Macau (UM) will hold a Doctor honoris causa Lecture on 4 December (Monday). UM honorary doctorate Cai Fang will give a talk titled ‘Population Factors in China’s Economic Growth’, examining the challenges and opportunities presented by the era of negative demographic growth in mainland China from the perspectives of the supply and demand sides. He will also present policy suggestions at the macro and micro levels. All are welcome to attend.

Prof Cai is a member of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a chief expert of the CASS China Top Think Tank, and a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the People’s Bank of China. His main research interests include China’s economic reform and development, demographic economics, labour economics, economic growth, income distribution, and poverty reduction.

The lecture will begin at 2:30pm in the Multi-function Hall of the UM Guest House (N1-G014), and will be conducted in Mandarin. For those who are interested in attending the lecture, please make a registration at https://go.um.edu.mo/lej0q2bh. For enquiries, please call 8822 4015 or email fss.enquiry@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/57256/

Delegation from Northwestern Polytechnical University visits UM to promote cooperation

Li Yanrong, secretary of the Party Committee of Northwestern Polytechnical University, led a delegation to visit the University of Macau (UM) today (29 November) and was received by Yonghua Song, rector of UM. The two parties held in-depth discussions on deepening cooperation between the two universities. Song said that UM is committed to nurturing talent who love the country and Macao, and creating more research achievements to help promote economic diversification in Macao and integrate the city into national development. He added that Northwestern Polytechnical University is an important partner of UM, and expressed hope that the two universities will continue to deepen their cooperation, so as to contribute to the country’s technological development and the cultivation of innovative talent. The delegation visited the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City, the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, the Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, and the Centre for Data Science. They spoke highly of UM’s research development.

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/57249/

UM honorary doctorate Ching-Ping Wong to give talk on polymers in electronic applications

The University of Macau (UM) will hold a Doctor honoris causa Lecture on 2 December (Saturday). Prof Ching-Ping Wong, a world-renowned scholar in electronic engineering, will give a talk titled ‘Polymers and Nano Materials for Electronic Application’. All are welcome to attend.

Prof Ching-Ping Wong is currently Regents’ Professor and the Charles Smithgall Institute Endowed Chair in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US. His research interests include polymeric electronic materials, electronic packaging and interconnects, interfacial adhesions, syntheses and characterisations of nano-functional materials such as well-aligned carbon nanotubes, graphene, lead-free alloys, flip chip underfill, ultra-high k capacitor composites, and lotus effect coating materials. He fundamentally transformed the packaging technology for semiconductors, pioneering the use of new materials ranging from polymers to nanomaterials, and achieving remarkable cost efficiency. Prof Wong has made outstanding contributions to academia, industry, and society, and is known as the ‘Father of Modern Semiconductor Packaging’ for his groundbreaking innovations. He also holds esteemed positions in multiple academic institutions, serving as a member of the US National Academy of Engineering, a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and a founding fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences.

During the lecture, Prof Wong will discuss the applications of polymers in electronic devices, present the synthesis methods and properties of nano-functional materials and their potential applications in electronics. By shedding light on the applications of polymers and nanomaterials, the lecture will take the audience into the fascinating world of polymeric electronic materials.

The lecture will begin at 10:00am in the Auditorium of Research Building (N21-G013), UM. It will be conducted in English. For those who are interested in attending the lecture, please make a registration at https://go.um.edu.mo/rv0m6o8p. For enquiries, please call 8822 8763 or email alicewmlam@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/57226/