UM holds science outreach activity ‘The Pursuit of Research’ to nurture future researchers

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) of the University of Macau (UM) held the tenth session of its science outreach activity ‘The Pursuit of Research’. About 40 secondary school students from Fong Chong School of Taipa, Sacred Heart Canossian College, Keang Peng School, and Escola Sun Wah participated in the activity.

In his welcome speech, Wakam Chang, assistant professor in FHS, encouraged the participants to cherish the immersive learning opportunity and enjoy conducting experiment. Led by Liu Weiwei, operation manager of the Biological Imaging and Stem Cell Core of FHS, the participants toured the faculty’s laboratories and learned about their cutting-edge research. They also conducted experiments in biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, and bioinformatics under the guidance of FHS technicians and students.

Wong Kai In, a student from Fong Chong School of Taipa, expressed excitement about doing experiments and described the activity as an eye-opening introduction to biomedical research. He hopes to pursue a career in biomedical research in the future. During the activity, he made an arbutin cream with excellent moisturising properties, turning theoretical knowledge into tangible results.

Lai Chi Kei, a student from Sacred Heart Canossian College, was particularly impressed by the plasmid restriction and electrophoresis experiment. During the experiment, she learned how to use restriction enzymes to cut plasmid DNA into specific fragments and then separate them by size using electrophoresis. She said, ‘At first, the steps seemed complicated, but with guidance and repeated practice, I gradually understood the principles behind the experiment and learned how to carry it out accurately.’

Chang Chai Lon, a student from Keang Peng School, thanked UM for giving them the opportunity to visit the Animal Research Core. He mentioned that before the visit, he was unaware that laboratory animals need to be taken care of in terms of daily life care, diet, and environmental hygiene to ensure their healthy growth.

FHS hopes that the science outreach activity can ignite secondary school students’ passion for science, nurture future scientists and researchers, and inject new vitality into the progress and development of society.

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/61250/

UM holds Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao Forum on Classical Literature and Culture to explore canonisation of Chinese literature

The third Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao Forum on Classical Literature and Culture took place at the University of Macau (UM) on 10 and 11 May. It was jointly organised by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) and the Department of Chinese Language and Literature of UM’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH), with assistance from the Jiangsu Ancient Literature Society, the School of Liberal Arts of Nanjing University, and the Department of Chinese and History of City University of Hong Kong. The forum brought together 44 experts, professors, and young scholars from universities and academic institutions in Jiangsu, Hong Kong, and Macao for in-depth discussions on ancient Chinese literature and culture.

The opening ceremony was moderated by Tang Chon Chit, professor in UM FAH. Zhang Yan, director of UM CCHC, delivered a welcome address to all attendees. Zhang Jian, associate dean of UM FAH, encouraged young scholars to uphold the humanistic values that are embodied in literary classics and contribute to the development of the field. Xu Jie, president of the Jiangsu Ancient Literature Society, expressed hope that the forum would promote the integration of tradition and innovation and safeguard the continuation of cultural heritage.

This year’s forum focused on the canonisation of Chinese literature. It featured five plenary sessions and two panel discussions. During the plenary sessions, scholars discussed and analysed Chinese literary works from different perspectives, while UM doctoral students from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature presented their research papers during the panel discussions. The closing ceremony was moderated by Wang Sihao, associate professor in UM FAH.

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/61248/

Forum of Think Tanks between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries held at UM

The Forum of Think Tanks between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, jointly organised by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR and the Macao SAR government, was held at the University of Macau (UM) today (29 May). Themed ‘Alcançar o Consenso sobre o Desenvolvimento Global, Unir Esforços para a Modernização Mundial’ (Achieving Consensus on Global Development, Uniting Efforts for Global Modernisation), the forum brought together over 100 guests and scholars from mainland China, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Liu Xianfa, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, said that the forum, now in its third year, has become an important platform for the Global Development Initiative and mutual learning between civilisations. He added that Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR will continue to support Macao’s role in connecting China and the world and fostering cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

O Lam, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR, highlighted Macao’s role as a strategic gateway for China’s high-level opening-up and a hub for cultural exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilisations. She expressed hope that Macao will promote closer ties between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries in terms of economic and trade cooperation, academic research, think tank cooperation, and cultural exchanges.

Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said that the forum would provide an important platform for mutual learning and cooperation between Chinese and Portuguese-speaking countries. As a leading academic institution in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, UM has developed an international education model and trained many Portuguese-speaking professionals. The university stands ready to work with all parties to help build a community with a shared future for mankind.

The forum featured keynote speeches by Shi Dan, academic member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and director of the Institute of Industrial Economics of CASS; Diego Pautasso, director of academic research at the Brazil-China Research Centre (Centro de Estudos Avançados Brasil-China) of the Maurício Grabois Foundation in Brazil; and Lok Wai Kin, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies and chairperson of the General Assembly of the Union of Macau Scholars.

The event also included two parallel sessions themed ‘Partilha de Experiências sobre os Processos de Modernização em Diferentes Países’ (Experiences of Modernisation in Different Countries) and ‘Visão Conjunta do Rumo para a Modernização’ (Joint Vision for the Road to Modernisation), respectively. Sixteen scholars from Macao, mainland China, and eight Portuguese-speaking countries—Brazil, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Timor-Leste, Angola, Cabo Verde, and Mozambique—shared their insights during the sessions.

In his closing remarks, Hu Weixing, dean of UM’s Faculty of Social Sciences, expressed hope that more high-level forums will be held to promote mutual learning and win-win cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in the course of modernisation.

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/61246/

UM Macao Humanities Forum explores Portuguese experience in shaping university as place of culture

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) of the University of Macau (UM) held the Macao Humanities Forum on 24 April, where Fátima Vieira, vice-rector for culture and museums of the University of Porto, delivered a lecture titled ‘The University as a Place of Culture: The Portuguese Experience’. The lecture attracted many students and faculty members.

In his welcome address, Joaquim Kuong, assistant dean of FAH, noted that Macao has been selected as a ‘Cultural City of East Asia 2025’. The city, with its unique background as a melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures, is committed to fostering global understanding through education. Cultural education is not just an academic pursuit, but also a journey of discovery, understanding, and growth. João Veloso, head of the Department of Portuguese, said that since her appointment as vice-rector of University of Porto, Prof Vieira has transformed the university into a cultural centre in the city. She has also facilitated inclusion initiatives with the local government, establishing the university as a bridge between academia and the community. As an expert in Utopian studies, Prof Vieira advocates integrating academic ideas into social innovation, setting an international model for the integration of universities and communities.

During the lecture, Prof Vieira pointed out that both the University of Porto and UM exemplify the concept of ‘universities without walls’, as their campuses are open to the public. She referenced the European University Association’s seminal document titled ‘Universities without walls: A vision for 2030’, which, for the first time identified culture as the fourth mission of universities. Prof Vieira mentioned that the University of Porto has adopted a number of measures to integrate culture into its academic ecosystem. These include: 1) incorporating ethics modules into science programmes to encourage medical students to participate in art activities such as the ‘poetry and medicine’ course, which involves visits to national theatres and museums; 2) launching the ‘Casa Comum’ initiative, which holds 280 public cultural events every year open to the public; 3) launching the ‘Cultural Prescription’ project in collaboration with healthcare institutions to incorporate artistic activities into mental health treatments; 4) transforming the university’s museums and botanical garden into public learning platforms to raise awareness of environmental protection by fostering emotional connections; 5) launching the ‘Cultural Corridor’ project in collaboration with the Expert Committee for the Arts and Culture of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP) to promote global collaboration, provide students from partner institutions with abundant resources, boosts economic and cultural vitality of the region, and expand regional cultural programmes to include other European institutions. Prof Vieira proposed that universities should cultivate students to become well-rounded citizens with both scientific literacy and humanistic values, in order to address global challenges such as climate crisis and digital transformation.

During the Q&A session, UM students and faculty members engaged in in-depth discussions with Prof Vieira on various topics, including how to encourage students to participate in cultural activities at museums; how the University of Porto, a university with several campuses spread across the city, interacts with local cultural institutions, and the challenges of establishing cooperation between different sectors. Prof Vieira explained that the University of Porto provides students with free shuttle bus services to cultural events and organises interactive activities featuring popular artists to boost engagement. Despite not having a centralised campus, the University of Porto encourages community involvement and cultural participation among its students through the ‘Cultural Corridor’ project and off-campus learning at museums and theatres, ensuring education extends beyond university walls.

This was the sixth lecture of the Macao Humanities Forum for the 2024/2025 academic year. Every year, the forum invites distinguished scholars in different fields of the humanities to present their latest research findings with students and faculty members in Macao. Previous lectures of the forum have covered a wide range of topics, including literature, linguistics, history, translation, and the arts.

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/61244/

UM student wins championship in Macao Universities Diplomatic Speech Contest

Chen Ruoqing, a student at the University of Macau (UM), has won the championship in the 5th Macao Universities Diplomatic Speech Contest held on 25 May 2025. The speech contest attracted around 170 students from eight local higher education institutions, with eight students advancing to the final round after a rigorous selection process.

Chen is a student in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College. In the contest, she delivered a powerful speech in which she shared her personal experiences in Azerbaijan and Timor-Leste, as well as impactful initiatives such as China’s solar power projects in Azerbaijan and Macao’s maternal and child health centre development in Timor-Leste. Her speech highlighted Macao’s unique role as a bridge between Chinese and Western cultures under the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, while underscoring the city’s contribution to the country’s opening-up. In her acceptance speech, Chen expressed heartfelt gratitude to UM for its support and encouragement.

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/61231/

UM rector attends events marking Fudan University’s 120th anniversary

Yonghua Song, rector of the University of Macau (UM), was invited to attend the 120th Anniversary Ceremony of Fudan University and the University and Sustainable Development Symposium on 27 May 2025. During the event, he joined presidents of leading universities from around the world to discuss the sustainable development of universities.

Speaking at the symposium, Song stressed that universities need to address their own sustainable development challenges as they reform their talent cultivation systems. He noted that against the backdrop of an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, and demographic challenges including ageing populations and declining birth rates, society’s expectations and standards for universities continue to rise. Universities must therefore achieve sustainable development through systematic innovation. Song also shared how UM implements whole-person education at the undergraduate level alongside the residential college system, promotes interdisciplinary integration and innovation through its state key laboratories and the Institute of Collaborative Innovation, and fosters an international teaching, learning, and research environment by expanding global cooperation.

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/61234/

UM holds Congregation 2025, CE recognises UM’s developments in recent years

The University of Macau (UM) held the Congregation 2025 today (24 May) to present graduation certificates to over 1,600 students who have completed their undergraduate studies and are ready to embark on new life journeys. During the ceremony, Sam Hou Fai, chief executive of the Macao SAR and chancellor of UM, expressed recognition of UM’s developments in recent years.

The ceremony was officiated by Sam, in the company of Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam, UM University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng Peter, and UM Rector Yonghua Song. Also present at the ceremony were representatives of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, government officials, members of the University Assembly and the University Council, senate members, as well as prominent members of the community. The ceremony unfolded in a warm and celebratory atmosphere. Many graduates’ family members and friends watched the live stream of the event in designated areas on the campus, while those unable to attend in person joined the joyous occasion via the live stream online.

In his speech, Sam expressed recognition of UM’s progress in reform and development in recent years. He noted that the university has closely aligned its efforts with the needs of the country and Macao, consistently enhancing the quality and scale of its education while actively fostering the integration between Macao and Hengqin. These efforts have significantly enhanced UM’s international reputation and influence, ushering in an era of unprecedented development. Sam highlighted that talent is crucial in addressing the profound changes taking place globally, with education serving as the foundation for cultivating such talent. In response, the Macao SAR government has remained committed to the policy of ‘developing Macao through education and cultivating talent for the development of Macao’. This commitment includes coordinating the integrated development of education, technology and talent, establishing the Macao-Hengqin international education (university) town in an orderly manner, and accelerating the development of an international hub for high-calibre talent. Sam expressed confidence that UM, along with its faculty, students, and alumni, will play a significant role in these efforts and achieve remarkable accomplishments. In addition, he encouraged graduates to stay determined and tackle challenges with youthful energy, innovation, and concrete actions.

In his speech, Song highlighted President Xi Jinping’s new task and goal for Macao: to promote the integrated development of education, technology and talent, and to build Macao into an international hub for high-calibre talent. He noted that UM, building on its remarkable achievements over the past decade since relocating to the current campus, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin last December. Remaining true to its original missions and living up to the trust placed in it, UM will continue to cultivate and attract talent for the country and Macao, and promote the integrated development of education, technology, and talent. In addition, Song expressed three hopes for the graduates: First, to develop Macao with pure passion and play their part in national rejuvenation. Second, to seize opportunities with vision and face challenges with resilience. Third, to enter uncharted territories with the spirit of innovation and forge ahead into the future with the power of youth.

This year’s student representative is Chan Sio Kuan from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities’ Portuguese Studies programme and the Honours College. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, English, and Portuguese, Chan has won multiple awards in Portuguese debating competitions and has extensive experience in language-related roles. In her speech, she noted that today’s young people face unprecedented challenges, which often require the wisdom to ask ‘why’. She expressed gratitude to UM for equipping students with ‘minds that think boldly, hearts that embrace diversity, and spirits that turn obstacles into opportunities’. She also encouraged her fellow graduates to carry UM’s spirit of courageous innovation with them as they move forward in life.

This year, there are over 1,600 bachelor’s degree graduates from the following faculties: Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Social Sciences. Of these graduates, 70 are also students of the Honours College who have completed the college’s certificate programme.

Before attending the UM Congregation, Sam visited UM and toured its three state key laboratories, namely the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, and the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City. He was briefed by the university on its strategic research layout as well as its achievements in industry-academia collaboration.

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/61217/

President of Renmin University of China leads delegation to visit UM

A delegation led by Lin Shangli, president of Renmin University of China (RUC), visited the University of Macau (UM) today (23 May) and was warmly received by UM Rector Yonghua Song. The two parties held in-depth discussions on further strengthening cooperation in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, and law.

During the visit, Song highlighted that RUC is an importance partner of UM and the two universities have made significant progress in establishing academic and university alliances in recent years. He expressed hope for even closer collaboration across various fields, particularly in the humanities, social sciences, and law, with the shared goal of becoming first-class universities with Chinese characteristics. The delegation also visited the University Gallery and Cheng Yu Tung College. They spoke highly of UM’s developments.

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/61212/

‘Regarding Books’ exhibition opens at UM, showcases charm of books

The exhibition ‘Regarding Books’, jointly organised by the University of Macau (UM) Library and the Department of Arts and Design in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, opened today (23 May). The exhibition showcases over 50 Chinese and Western rare books selected from the UM Library’s collection, allowing visitors to discover the charm of books and explore the unique value and cultural significance of printed books in the digital age.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said that the exhibition offers visitors both a visual feast and an opportunity to reflect on traditional culture and reading practices. Li Jun, head of the Department of Arts and Design, said that the exhibition allows visitors to appreciate books from various aspects, including their typography, layout, illustrations, binding, and marginal notes. Xu Hong, librarian of the UM Library, expressed hope that the exhibition will stimulate discussion about the evolving role and significance of printed books in the digital age.

The exhibition is taking place in the Exhibition Hall on the first floor of the UM Wu Yee Sun Library (E2). It is open daily from 10:00am to 7:00pm until 31 August, including public holidays. Admission to the exhibition is free, and guided tours are available on site and by appointment. For more details, please visit the UM Museum of Art website: https://library.um.edu.mo/museum/en/.

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/61211/