UM delegation visits top universities in Singapore to forge collaborations on training of innovative talent 

A delegation from the University of Macau (UM), led by Rector Yonghua Song and Vice Rector Rui Martins, recently visited three top universities in Singapore to foster exchanges and cooperation in teaching and research and promote the training of innovative talent with global competitiveness, so as to expand UM’s international network and enhance its degree of internationalisation.

The UM delegation first visited the National University of Singapore (NUS) and was warmly welcomed by NUS President Tan Eng Chye and other representatives. During the visit, Tan gave an introduction to the history and development direction of NUS and expressed hope to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between NUS and UM in the development of innovative models for talent cultivation and the pursuit of breakthroughs in scientific research. Song said that NUS is a world-class university, adding that the visit would help to strengthen the ties between the two universities and create opportunities for collaboration in talent training and research innovation. In the past five years, the two universities have jointly published more than 200 papers and have launched an exchange programme for student researchers in the field of materials science to promote research collaboration and talent development. Looking ahead, the two universities will strengthen collaborations in areas such as student exchange, joint training of doctoral students, and research, which will provide more opportunities and resources for students from both universities.

The delegation then visited the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), where Song and SUTD President Chong Tow Chong signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). According to the MOU, UM and SUTD will jointly undertake academic and research projects, establish exchange programmes for faculty and students, co-organise academic seminars, and share academic resources. After the signing ceremony, representatives of the two universities exchanged views on the promotion of the above-mentioned projects and future plans for collaboration. Both parties expressed hope to launch student exchange programmes and foster research collaboration on the basis of the MOU. According to Song, cooperation between UM and SUTD will promote academic exchange and provide students and faculty with greater learning and development opportunities, thus leading to a win-win situation. Chong pointed out that the signing of the MOU would also help promote international academic exchange and and nurture innovative talents with global perspectives. Members of the UM delegation also visited the Dyson-SUTD Innovation Studios and Fab Lab to learn about SUTD’s latest development in technological innovation.

The UM delegation also visited Nanyang Technological University (NTU). During the visit, Tim White, vice president of NTU, introduced NTU’s strengths and achievements in talent cultivation and research and expressed hope to deepen cooperation between UM and NTU in technology and innovation, academic exchange, and talent training. Song said that UM attaches great importance to the partnership with NTU, adding that three NTU students had come to UM for exchange study in this semester. He expressed hope that both universities would continue to work together to cultivate talent with international perspectives and innovative abilities, and jointly promote higher education development in Asia and beyond. Both parties also exchanged views on further cooperation to enhance faculty and student exchange, jointly hold academic seminars, and promote joint research projects. Later, the UM delegation visited the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and the School of Chemical, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at NTU to learn about their latest developments and research achievements. The UM delegation also visited the NTU-USP office and learned about NTU’s training model for top students, and exchanged ideas on cultivating student leaders.

The UM delegation also paid a visit to Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Sun Haiyan and Minister-Counsellor (Education) Han Jun. During the visit, the UM members gave an introduction to the university’s latest development, international strategic layout, as well as the current situation and prospects of cooperation between UM and Singaporean education institutions. Sun praised UM for its rapid development in recent years and its achievements in internationalisation, and stated that the embassy will fully support UM in expanding cooperation and exchanges with Singaporean education institutions. Both sides also had in-depth discussions on promoting cooperation between universities in the Macao SAR and Singapore.

Member of the UM delegation also included Tang Zikang, director of the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering (IAPME); Pan Hui, deputy director of IAPME; and Wang Ruibing, director of the Global Affairs Office.

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/55586/

The 10th training course in Chinese medicine quality assurance ends

The Tenth Training Course in Chinese Medicine Quality Assurance has ended and a certificate presentation ceremony was held for participants in the course. They praised the training course, considering the content to be rich and helpful in promoting exchanges and cooperation in Chinese medicine between Macao and mainland China. They also believe that the course will contribute to the coordinated development of the industry of Chinese medicine technology. The course was held at the University of Macau (UM) and lasted five days. In addition to learning about advanced technologies for Chinese medicine quality research and the latest development of the field, the participants visited the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine at UM and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao. The training course was co-organised by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao SAR and hosted by the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology).

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/55573/

UM delegation visits top universities in Germany and Belgium to forge research and academic collaborations

A delegation from the University of Macau (UM), led by Rector Yonghua Song, recently visited the Technical University of Munich, Constructor University, and Leibniz University of Hannover in Germany, as well as KU Leuven in Belgium, to forge research and academic collaborations between UM and universities in Europe, in order to expand the university’s international network and exchange experience in higher education.

Song said that the visit was an important initiative to implement UM’s strategy of internationalisation. As an internationalised university, UM will continue to promote academic exchanges and cooperation with renowned universities around the world, with the goal of improving its academic quality and global impact as well as creating more exchange opportunities for its faculty and students. Through collaborating with internationally acclaimed universities, UM can improve its capacity in education and benefit the development of Macao as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an international education demonstration zone.

The UM delegation first visited the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Constructor University, and Leibniz University Hannover in Germany. All three universities are known in their country and the international higher education sector for their distinctive features and strengths in different fields. During the visit to TUM, the UM representatives visited the campus and laboratories of the university. Dongsheng Wen, chair of thermodynamics at TUM, gave an introduction to the university’s latest developments and research results in the field of thermodynamics. The two parties also held a meeting to discuss interdisciplinary collaboration in fields such as energy and materials science.

During their visit to Constructor University in Bremen, the UM delegation was warmly received by its President Stanislav Protasov and other representatives of the university. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding and an agreement on student exchange, and had in-depth discussions on exchange programmes for faculty and students. At the Leibniz University Hannover, the UM representatives met with Leibniz University Hannover President Volker Epping and other representatives and had in-depth discussions on academic exchanges, research collaboration, and talent training. The two parties also reached a consensus on how to strengthen exchange programmes for doctoral students and promote collaborative research in the areas of strength of the two universities.

In addition, the UM delegation visited KU Leuven, a world-renowned university in Brussels, Belgium. Members of the delegation visited the Faculty of Economics and Business, as well as the Department of Electrical Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering Science, to learn about the academic structure of the two faculties. Representatives of the two universities also held a meeting to discuss the possibility of establishing student exchange and ways to enhance collaboration in the training of doctoral students and research.

Members of the UM delegation also included Rui Martins, vice rector; and Wang Ruibing, director of the Global Affairs Office.

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/55570/

UM members visit national security education exhibition

The University of Macau (UM) recently arranged for students and staff members to visit the National Security Education Exhibition co-organised by the Macao SAR government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR. Led by University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng, Acting Rector Michael Hui, and Vice Rector Mok Kai Meng, the UM members learned more about the development of the national security system from various perspectives through the exhibition.

Through the exhibition, UM students and staff members gained a complete and in-depth understanding of the holistic view of national security, the latest developments of the country and Macao in improving the national security system, and the collective responsibility for safeguarding national security. According to the students, they learned from the concise text, photos, and multiple videos in the exhibition that China has made a series of new achievements under the guidance of the holistic view of national security. Some staff members said that with the strong support of the central government, the principle of ‘patriots governing Macao’ has been thoroughly implemented, facilitating social stability and economic development in Macao.

In addition, UM students won a number of prizes in the national security writing competition co-organised by the Macao SAR government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, including two first prizes, two second prizes, and four merit prizes.

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/55559/

UMDF Professorial Fellow Gui Changfeng gives talk on fun and challenges of mathematics

The University of Macau (UM) today (21 April) held a University of Macau Development Foundation Professorial Fellowship Lecture titled ‘Mathematics and Its Applications: Fun and Challenges’. Gui Changfeng, University of Macau Development Foundation Professional Fellow of Mathematics, and chair professor and head of the Department of Mathematics in the Faculty of Science and Technology at UM, was the speaker. During the talk, Prof Gui discussed the connections between geometry, phase transition, and image processing to present the fun and challenges of research in mathematics. The talk attracted many UM faculty members and students, as well as members of the general public.

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/55561/

Experts from China and abroad gather at Hengqin to discuss advanced technologies in regenerative medicine

As one of the activities to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), UM FHS and the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently co-organised the 2nd International Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Conference in Regenerative Medicine. The two-day event attracted more than 200 participants from the United States, Singapore, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, including renowned scholars, biomedical experts, industry practitioners, researchers, and students. During the event, they exchanged ideas on the theories and technological advances in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. UM Vice Rector Ge Wei, in his speech, said that the Greater Bay Area (GBA) is an important hub for the open development of the medical and pharmaceutical industry, adding that the conference aimed to create a platform for displaying the latest research results in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Lin Haifan, a world-renowned scientist, who is also the president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, revealed genetic regulation in germ cells and outlined future research directions in the Piwi-piRNA field in his keynote speech.

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/55541/

Liu Haisu Art Education Symposium held at UM

The University of Macau (UM) Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) and the Liu Haisu International Art Research Association recently co-organised the Liu Haisu Art Education Symposium and the first general meeting of the association to shed light on Liu’s artistic life. During the event, Zhu Shoutong, director of CCHC, gave a brief introduction to Liu’s achievements in art. Liu Chan, a renowned painter and the daughter of Liu, shared details about the life of her father, saying that he not only devoted himself to learning Western painting techniques in order to bring a new breath of life to the Chinese art circle, but also committed himself to promoting traditional Chinese painting to the world. Liu later presented a certificate to Zhu to appoint him as the first honorary advisor to the association.

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/55531/

UM to hold a talk on fun and challenges of mathematics

The University of Macau (UM) on Friday 21 April will hold a University of Macau Development Foundation Professorial Fellowship Lecture titled ‘Mathematics and Its Applications: Fun and Challenges’. Gui Changfeng, University of Macau Development Foundation Professional Fellow of Mathematics, will be the speaker. During the lecture, he will discuss the connections between geometry, phase transition, and image processing to present the fun and challenges of research in mathematics.

Prof Gui is also a chair professor and head of the Department of Mathematics in the Faculty of Science and Technology at UM. He has spent the last 30 years teaching and conducting research in mathematics in the United States, Canada, and China. His research interests include non-linear partial differential equations and image analysis and processing.

The talk will begin at 3:30pm in the Multi-function Hall of the UM Guest House (N1-G014). It will be conducted in English and livestreamed simultaneously. All are welcome. To attend the talk in person, please make a registration at https://isw.um.edu.mo/evm/register/pfl_0421G. To join the talk online, please register at https://umac.zoom.us/j/98559875022?pwd=VDBBcjR5WTg5SzB1L3NnQno5ZTdudz09. For enquiries, please call 8822 4504.

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/55524/

UM scholar gives talk on how big data has changed social science research

The University of Macau (UM) today (18 April) held a talk titled ‘What Does a Social Scientist Do in the Era of Big Data?’ as the 12th talk of the UM Scholar Research Forum. Cai Tianji, professor in the Faculty of Social Science, was the speaker. The talk was attended by a full house of faculty members and students, with some of them joining the talk virtually. During the event, Prof Cai provided a vivid account of how big data changed social science research by presenting a series of research results from social scientists using big data tools. According to him, the era of big data presents a new development period for social science as the technology allows researchers to further validate classical social science theories. He also noted that big data research brought many challenges in terms of data security, privacy protection, and ethics.

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/55526/

UM successfully develops TME nanoprobe for tumour therapy

A research team led by Zhao Qi, associate professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the University of Macau (UM), and a team led by Shen Qingming, professor in the School of Telecommunication and Information Engineering at the Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, have made significant progress in developing a tumour microenvironment (TME) activated phototheranostic nanoplatform in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700nm). They succeeded in fabricating a TME-activated nanoprobe through a simple coordination-driven self-assembly strategy, which can achieve sensitive and specific tumour diagnosis and the synergistic anti-tumour therapeutic effect. The research results have been published in the international journal Small.

NIR-II phototheranostics have shown great prospects in tumour theranostics due to the depressed photon absorption and scattering by biological samples and can achieve deeper tissue penetration and higher maximum permissible exposure to lasers. However, most current NIR-II probes are in an ‘always on’ mode, which emit invariable fluorescence signals in both lesion and normal tissues owing to their non-specific effects. Such ‘always on’ signal mode can lead to a low tumour-to-normal tissue signal ratio, limited sensitivity and specificity, and even ‘false positive’ results. The non-specific diagnosis and treatments may cause irreversible damage to normal tissues during the off-target theranostic period.

Some activatable NIR-II phototheranostic probes have been fabricated to precisely distinguish lesions from normal tissues in response to TME. Despite excellent diagnostic specificity, current activatable NIR-II probes are mainly limited by complex chemical synthesis steps. In addition, to deliver the fluorophore, it may be necessary to introduce excess components, which might cause some excipient side effects. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a facile method to fabricate TME activatable NIR-II phototheranostic systems for improving the diagnosis specificity and therapeutic efficacy toward tumours.

In view of this, the research team developed a TME-activated phototheranostic nanoplatform (AFD NPs) based on the principle of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The AFD NPs are fabricated through self-assembly of Ag2S QDs (NIR-II fluorescence probe) and ultra-small semiconductor polymer dots (DBZ Pdots, NIR-II fluorescence quencher) utilising Fe(III) as coordination nodes. In normal tissues, the AFD NPs maintain themselves in an ‘off’ mode, due to the FRET between Ag2S QDs and DBZ Pdots. However, the NIR-II fluorescence signal of AFD NPs can be rapidly ‘turned on’ by the overexpressed glutathione (GSH) in tumour tissues, resulting in significantly enhanced tumour-to-normal tissue (T/NT) signal ratio for tumour-specific diagnosis. Moreover, the released Pdots and reduced Fe(II) ions provide NIR-II photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT), respectively. The GSH depletion and NIR-II PTT effect further aggravate CDT-mediated oxidative damage toward tumours, achieving the synergistic anti-tumour therapeutic effect. The work provides a promising strategy for the development of TME-activated NIR-II phototheranostic nanoprobes.

Prof Zhao and Prof Shen are the corresponding authors of the study, and UM postdoctoral fellow Dai Yeneng is the first author. The project was supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao SAR (File no: 0043/2021/A1), the National Key R&D Programme of China (File no: 2019YFA0904403), and UM (File no: MYRG2022-00143-FHS). The full version of the research paper can be viewed at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/smll.202206053.

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/55521/