UM Confucius Institute holds graduation ceremony for Mandarin course students

The University of Macau (UM) Confucius Institute held a graduation ceremony for students in its Mandarin courses in the second semester of the 2022/2023 academic year. During the event, which was held at UM’s Student Activity Centre, over 100 students received their graduation certificates. According to the students, the Mandarin courses have enhanced their language skills and deepened their passion for Chinese culture.

Since 2018, UM’s Confucius Institute has produced more than 900 graduates through offering high-quality Mandarin courses and a wide range of cultural exchange activities for non-native speakers of Chinese. Moreover, after joining the Alliance of Confucius Institutes in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in 2021, the institute has actively participated in activities organised by the alliance and cooperated with other Confucius Institutes in Portuguese-speaking countries and regions.

Chen Zhong, deputy director of UM’s Confucius Institute, as well as more than 120 teachers and students attended the ceremony. On behalf of the graduates, Si Jiexuan from the Elementary Mandarin course and Ke Lini from the Advanced Mandarin course shared their experiences of learning Mandarin and expressed gratitude to the teachers for their guidance and care. During the ceremony, the Perfect Attendance Awards and the Best Student Awards were also presented to recognise the students’ outstanding performance.

The graduation ceremony began with a Chinese music performance. The students also presented ‘San Ju Ban’ (三句半), a type of Chinese crosstalk, and told a story with an interesting plot based on Chinese vocabulary. The performances were well received by the audience. In addition, the students showcased techniques of Chinese martial arts. They learned how to give a fist-and-palm salute and practise on a wooden dummy, and different forms of Wing Chun from the Fighting Arts Club Macau, through which they obtained a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture. The graduation ceremony ended with the students singing the anthem of the Confucius Institute.

UM’s Confucius Institute offers Mandarin courses at six levels, namely Elementary Mandarin I, Elementary Mandarin II, Intermediate Mandarin I, Intermediate Mandarin II, Pre-advanced Mandarin, and Advanced Mandarin. The course content is closely related to everyday life and helps students master practical expressions in Mandarin. The institute has also launched a website titled Culture Corner, online Mandarin courses, and cultural activities to enable students to discover the charm of Chinese culture in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

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/55901/

UM teams win prizes at National Structure Design Contest on Information Technology for College Students

Two teams of students from the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) won a second prize and a third prize in the Fifth National Structure Design Contest on Information Technology for College Students. The competition attracted 2,266 teams from 328 higher education institutions across China, and the UM teams are the only teams from Hong Kong and Macao to have won the prizes in the competition.

Guided by Associate Professor Lam Chi Chiu and Research Assistant Professor Wong Mun On in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the FST, students of the two teams—Ho Man Hin, Qiao Yutong, and Zhao Haomiao (Team 1), and Li Yuchong and Hu Yifan (Team 2)—analysed the structural load characteristics of a building and optimised its model structure to ensure that their design solutions met national codes and standards in terms of structural stability. The two teams won a second prize and a third prize respectively.

UM has always placed great emphasis on education and is committed to promoting the holistic development of students. The university also nurtures talent in different fields by integrating emerging technologies into teaching. The outstanding performance of the UM students in the contest reflects their innovative thinking and problem-solving ability.

The contest was jointly organised by the Education Working Committee of the China Civil Engineering Society and Tsinghua University, with assistance from the South China University of Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Guangdong Civil and Architectural Society, Architectural Design and Research Institute of Guangdong Province, and China Architecture and Building Press.

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/55875/

UM makes new progress in intelligent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

A team led by Yuan Zhen, professor at the Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences (CCBS) of the University of Macau (UM), has made new progress in the study of individual-specific functional connectivity to predict normal cognitive ageing (CA), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study is the first to combine individual-specific functional connectivity with artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to reveal differences in functional connectivity between CA, MCI, and AD in elderly people with different APOE ε4 genotypes. The research results have been published in Communications Biology, a journal from Nature.

AD is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. As of 2019, over 5.16 million people worldwide were diagnosed with AD or other types of dementia. AD patients usually suffer from significant memory loss and executive function impairments, which lead to decreased quality of life. Traditional neuroimaging investigations relying on population-level functional network atlas have difficulty in identifying brain biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis of AD. At the individual level, studies on predicting the process from CA, MCI, to AD are still insufficient, particularly in patients presenting different clinical phenotypes.

In the study, researchers extracted the neuroimaging data of 235 elderly individuals (120 APOE ε4 carriers and 115 APOE ε4 non-carriers; age: 60-85 years) from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset and constructed individual-specific functional connectivity for each participant. They then utilised recursive feature selection-based machine learning to reveal individual brain-behaviour relationships and predict changes in the clinical symptoms in AD patients with different genotypes. The study found that individual-specific functional connectivity of elderly people with different APOE ε4 genotypes could be used to predict the clinical subgroups from CA, MCI, to AD, and yield moderate-to-strong estimation levels of AD-related clinical symptoms. However, the team failed to detect clinical symptoms in almost all cases with conventional atlas-based functional connectivity.

The study also showed that connections between brain functional networks are more informative than those within the same network in explaining symptom-specific severity of AD, particularly for elderly people with the APOE ε4 allele. The research results highlighted the importance of accounting for individual variation in cortical functional anatomy in neurodegenerative research, which can be extended to the healthy population. In addition, individual-specific functional connectivity models could be used to tailor treatment to specific needs. Thus, the study underlined the relationship between individual-specific functional connectivity and clinical symptoms, which can provide clinical utility for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of AD.

The study was led by Prof Yuan, and the first author of the paper is Hua Lin, PhD student in the CCBS and the Faculty of Health Sciences. The study was supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund, Macao SAR (File no: 0048/2021/AGJ, 0020/2019/AMJ), Macao SAR Government Education Fund (CP-UMAC-2020-01), and UM (MYRG2020-00067-FHS, MYRG2019-00082-FHS). The full version of the paper can be viewed at https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-04952-6.

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/55868/

UM builds e-learning platform for Portuguese learners to study grammar

The Department of Portuguese of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Macau (UM) has built ple8ple, an e-learning platform for Portuguese language learners to study grammar. The platform integrates grammatical knowledge with practical usage to create a real-world language environment, making grammar learning fun and practical.

Funded by the Education Fund of the Macao SAR government (project reference number: CP-UMAC-2021-01), the platform (http://ple8ple.fah.um.edu.mo) targets Chinese speakers who learn Portuguese as a foreign language. At this stage, the platform offers 20 modules covering grammar from the A1 to B1 level defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the Framework of Reference for Teaching Portuguese Abroad. Each module is based on a specific context as the theme, from which grammatical content is introduced. To help Portuguese learners better grasp the content, the platform provides bilingual explanations in Chinese and Portuguese, and the content is arranged from beginner to advanced level. Each section offers a variety of exercises, allowing learners to practise listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in different ways and consolidate their grammatical knowledge.

The platform allows users to practise and apply their language skills and self-assess their learning progress, enabling them to become independent learners. Thanks to its originality, flexibility and effectiveness, the department believes that the platform will be well received by Portuguese learners.

For enquiries, please contact the Department of Portuguese, Faculty of Arts and Humanities of UM, by email fah.portuguese@um.edu.mo, or by phone (853) 8822 8181/8931.

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/55863/

UM, Shanghai University sign collaboration agreements

The University of Macau (UM) and Shanghai University have signed two agreements to officially elevate their relations to a strategic partnership. Both universities will continue to deepen cooperation in talent cultivation and research innovation to pursue high-quality development on both sides.

At the ceremony, UM Rector Yonghua Song and Shanghai University President Liu Changsheng signed a strategic collaboration framework agreement. They also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in education and science between UM and ULisboa School at Shanghai University. In terms of talent cultivation, the two universities will actively carry out semester-long and short-term exchange programmes and explore the feasibility of jointly cultivating doctoral students in fields such as Portuguese studies, biomedicine, computer science, and microelectronics to build the talent pipeline for the innovative development of Shanghai and Macao. In terms of academic and scientific research, the two universities will strengthen cooperation in fields such as microelectronics and integrated circuit technology, Internet of Things for smart city, chemistry, material sciences, biomedicine, computer science, and cultural and creative arts.

The delegation from Shanghai University also visited Moon Chun Memorial College, the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, and State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City to learn more about the implementation of whole-person education at UM and the university’s development and achievements in key research areas such as material sciences, microelectronics, and smart city.

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/55865/

UM holds Roundtable Seminar on Innovations in Interpreter Training in the Era of AI

The University of Macau’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) recently held a Roundtable Seminar on Innovations in Interpreter Training in the Era of AI. The event brought together interpreting experts, educators, and technology developers across the Greater China region to discuss the latest innovations in interpreter training in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).

In his opening remarks, Li Defeng, Associate Dean of the FAH, highlighted the rapid development of AI and how it has influenced people’s lives and work. The seminar provided an excellent platform to explore ways to leverage AI to enhance interpreting training and foster meaningful discussions, insightful debates, and innovative solutions.

The seminar, which was broadcast live, featured 12 speakers who discussed various topics related to interpreting, including teaching, training, performance assessment, and thesis writing, with a focus on research findings, hands-on experience, and case studies. The presentations were followed by discussions between the speakers and the audience on the application of AI in interpreting and related strategies.

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/55861/

UM holds Macau Symposium on Biomedical Sciences

On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) kicked off the Ninth Macau Symposium on Biomedical Sciences today (15 June). Over 400 biomedical experts, researchers, and students from around the world will participate in the four-day event, which will involve both virtual and in-person elements and feature nearly 80 talks with the theme ‘health’ on cutting-edge research and innovative technology in biomedical sciences.

UM Rector Yonghua Song delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. According to him, positioning itself as a university rooted in Macao, UM will continue to take part in the development of the Greater Bay Area, integrate into national development, and reach out to the world by leverage its strengths and characteristics in talent development, research, and internationalisation. Over the past decade, FHS has grown tremendously and attained outstanding achievements in both teaching and research. UM is currently among the top 1% in Essential Science Indicators rankings in several disciplines of health sciences. In addition, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, UM established the first Frontiers Science Center in Hong Kong and Macao — Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology. Led by teams in FHS, the centre has successfully achieved many breakthroughs in research.

In his speech, Cheang Kun Wai, acting president of the Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT), said that UM has been actively conducting unique, high-quality, and influential research and interdisciplinary studies in line with the development needs of Macao and the Greater Bay Area, particularly in the field of health sciences. As the principle unit, FHS since its establishment in 2013 has initiated over 130 projects related to health sciences and funded by FDCT. Amongst them are Macao Key R&D Projects that have achieved outstanding results in the areas of precision oncology and stem cell research.

Chuxia Deng, dean of FHS, said that the faculty has been dedicated to exploring new frontiers in health sciences with the tremendous support of the local community, and has produced many groundbreaking results over the past decade, adding that the results have received consideration attention and recognitions from academia and industry. According to him, members of FHS will continue to collaborate with experts and scholars in biomedical sciences around the world to bring about new research results. Through the symposium, he aims to provide a platform for researchers and academics worldwide to have in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics in biomedical sciences, which is expected to encourage them to work together and promote industry-academia collaboration.

The symposium includes ten keynote lectures and about 70 session talks delivered by experts from home and abroad. They cover topics such as cancer immunology, personalised cancer therapy, tumour microenvironment and metastasis, metabolism, signaling networks and therapy, developmental induction, stem cells, infectious diseases, genome editing, and new technologies. In addition, this year’s event displays more than 140 outstanding posters. Upon professional evaluation by the Poster Review Committee, 12 young scholars will be selected to receive the Best Poster Award.

Since its inception in 2014, the Macau Symposium on Biomedical Sciences has been dedicated to providing an academic platform for experts and scholars in biomedical sciences to enhance research collaboration and promote the innovative development of biomedical sciences. Other guests who attended the opening ceremony of this year’s event included Peng Xiangyang, deputy division chief of the economics department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Cheong Chok Man, director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau; Xie Xuebing, vice director of Kiang Wu Hospital; Chao Chong Hang, secretary-general of Talents Development Committee; Lei Chi Ieong, head of the Department of Registration of the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau; Fong Ka Kin, head of the Division of Tertiary Educational Cooperation of the Education and Youth Development Bureau; Tang Kwong Yui, chief physician in the Health Bureau and Conde S Januário Hospital; Lam Oi Ching, associate dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports at Macao Polytechnic University; Chong Hong Heng, president of the Macau Association of Precision Medicine; Chan Wai Sin, president of the Macau Orthopaedic Association; representatives of various secondary schools in Macao, as well as representatives of UM, including Ge Wei and Xu Jian, vice rectors of UM; Wang Chuang, dean of the Faculty of Education; and Paul Pang, dean of students.

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/55855/

Representatives of intellectual property authorities in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao visit UM

A delegation from the Mainland and Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR Intellectual Property Symposium, consisting of representatives of China National Intellectual Property Administration, provincial-level intellectual property bureaus in the pan-Pearl River Delta region, intellectual property bureaus within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong SAR government, recently visited the University of Macau (UM) and was warmly received by UM Vice Rector Ge Wei. Ge gave the guests an introduction to UM’s history, research layout, campus facilities, and development direction. Both parties had a meeting in the Research Building, where Wang Chunming, interim director of UM’s Research Services and Knowledge Transfer Office, discussed industry-academia collaborations at UM and the recent development of academic units at the university. Members of the delegation then visited UM’s Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, and Faculty of Health Sciences. They spoke highly of the achievements of UM in recent years in the fields of intellectual property and technology transfer.

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/55856/

UM, National Academy of Governance sign MOU

The University of Macau (UM) and the National Academy of Governance (NAG) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on collaboration in talent development and academic exchange. The MOU was signed by Wang Ruibing, director of the Global Affairs Office of UM, and Dong Qing, director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the NAG, under the witness of Yonghua Song, rector of UM, and Xie Chuntao, vice president of the NAG. Both parties expressed hope that the signing of the MOU would enhance cooperation between the two institutions. The delegation from the NAG also visited the University Gallery and the Public Administration Training Centre at UM, where the two parties exchanged views on how to deepen cooperation in public administration training and public policy research. Xie spoke highly of UM’s development and achievements, and praised its training model for public administration professionals as well as its curriculum.

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/55853/

UM students join exchange trip to Peking University

To cultivate students’ love for China and Macao and strengthen communication between universities in Macao and Beijing, Cheng Yu Tung College (CYTC) of the University of Macau (UM) recently arranged for its teachers and students to visit Peking University on a seven-day exchange trip. The trip was themed ‘A Historical and Cultural Journey to Beijing’, where CYTC members attended lessons with members of Yuanpei College at Peking University and visited scenic spots and historical sites to gain a better understanding of Chinese history and culture.

Gong Yingxue, associate master of CYTC, and Sun Feiyu, vice dean of Yuanpei College, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Teachers and students from CYTC took part in a number of activities organised by Yuanpei College, including lectures and visits. Zhang Ming, professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University, gave a lecture titled ‘The Philosophy of Life: The Life Meaning of Su Shi’s Two Versions of “Song of the Red Cliff”’. He provided students with a detailed introduction to Su Shi’s life, and explained Su Shi’s two versions of ‘Song of the Red Cliff’ based on his research on the poet. Chen Jun, professor from the School of Arts at Peking University, gave a lecture titled ‘Playing the Guqin in Kunqu Opera towards the Moonlight’ to cultivate students’ interest in Kunqu Opera. In addition, Gong, together with the teachers and students from the two universities, watched the film Invisible Guests at the Peking University Hall and listened to the explanation by Dai Jinhua, professor at Peking University.

Under the arrangement of Qi Liping, director of the Comprehensive Office of Yuanpei College, and Liu Rui, teacher of the Academic Affairs Office at Peking University, the teachers and students attended Yuanpei College’s courses to experience the similarities and differences in courses between the two colleges, gaining valuable experience for the development of residential college courses at UM. In addition, they visited the National Museum, Beihai Park, and the Summer Palace.

UM’s Cheng Yu Tung College and Peking University’s Yuanpei College have been organising student exchange activities since 2015, fostering a deep friendship and constantly promoting exchanges between higher education institutions in Beijing and Macao. Through the visit, teachers and students of CYTC gained a deep and comprehensive understanding of Peking University and Yuanpei College. The students say that the exchange trip provided opportunities for students from both universities to get to know each other, learn from each other, and experience the lifestyles and cultures of each other. They also built friendships and formed unforgettable memories during this trip to Beijing.

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/55850/