‘Legacy of Golden Stone’ Suzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Seal Carving Joint Exhibition held at UM

The ‘Legacy of Golden Stone’ Suzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Seal Carving Joint Exhibition, organised by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) of the University of Macau (UM), Suzhou Overseas Friendship Association, Changshu Overseas Friendship Association, and Changshu International Cultural Exchange Promotion Association, was held at CCHC in UM’s Cultural Building. The exhibition was part of UM’s third Festival of Chinese Culture and featured seal carving works by over 110 artists, attracting many artists, scholars, and guests from Suzhou, Macao, and Hong Kong.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Yonghua Song, rector of UM; Zhu Shoutong, director of CCHC; and other guests from Macao, Suzhou, and Changshu. In his speech, Rector Song gave an overview of a series of events themed ‘one country, two systems’ held by UM to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. He said that UM is committed to nurturing talent who love the country and Macao, adding that the Cultural Building and the Suao Pavilion at UM embody the university’s emphasis on the humanities, traditional culture, and Chinese arts. After the ceremony, Rector Song accompanied the guests to visit the exhibition and the Suao Pavilion.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/59559/

UM short film on mental health wins award at Asia International Film Festival

The Invisible Self, a short film produced by Moon Chun Memorial College (MCMC) of the University of Macau (UM), has won the Best Director Award in the University Student Film category at the 2024 Asia International Film Festival. The film was previously screened at UM and several secondary schools in Macao, sparking discussions among students about mental health and encouraging them to care for themselves and others.

The Invisible Self, which premiered in 2023, was co-directed by local director Steven U and fellows and students from MCMC. With self-acceptance as the theme, the film tells a story about embracing both the positive and negative aspects of oneself and connecting with one’s inner self. It aims to raise awareness of mental health in the community. The film production was part of the MCMC Pastoral Care Support Unit’s community service programme, and the main cast and crew were all members of the college.

In response to UM’s Mental Health Awareness Month in October, MCMC held a film salon on The Invisible Self. Elvo Sou, head of UM’s Student Counselling Section, was invited to analyse the film from a psychological perspective and explain the theme of the ‘inner child’, raising students’ awareness of ‘self-compassion’. During the post-screening discussion, Sou, the director, the crew, and representatives from the Psychological Society of the University of Macau Students’ Union discussed with the audience the mental health issues presented in the film. Director Steven U expressed his gratitude for the award from the 2024 Asia International Film Festival, and attributed the positive feedback and recognition the film received to the collective efforts and dedication of the entire crew.

Following its premiere at the UM Student Activity Centre in October 2023, The Invisible Self was screened at several local secondary schools from November 2023 to April 2024. Led by Alice Hong, MCMC resident fellow and executive producer of the film, crew members, MCMC social worker, counsellor and clinical supervisor from UM’s Student Counselling Section, held film screenings at Colégio Mateus Ricci, Macau Anglican College, Pui Ching Middle School (Macau), and Macau Portuguese School. They also held post-screening discussions to share the production background of the film and discuss mental health issues such as emotional awareness, emotional suppression, stress management, childhood trauma, and seeking professional help. The screenings were well received by students and teachers, with a total of 1,360 students attending the screenings.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/59551/

UM rector shares AI education practices at Global Forum of University Presidents

Yonghua Song, rector of the University of Macau (UM), was invited to attend the Global Forum of University Presidents held at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). He joined 120 experts and scholars, including presidents of renowned universities and heads of authoritative international organisations, for in-depth discussions on the theme ‘Fostering a Shared Future: Embracing Inclusion and Innovation’, with the aim of promoting the exchange of new insights in global education and contributing to the development of universities in a changing era.

Rector Song delivered a keynote speech at the parallel forum on ‘Opportunities and Challenges: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Higher Education’, where he discussed the transformative development of AI and higher education, and shared UM’s exploratory initiatives and practical experiences. He also advocated improving the learning, application, and popularisation of AI in higher education, leveraging AI to promote interdisciplinary and cutting-edge research, and optimising the regulation of AI, adding that academia should ensure that AI research adheres to the principles and practices of open science.

Rector Song was also invited to attend the Sun Yat-sen University 100th Anniversary Celebration Conference. He highlighted the fruitful cooperation between UM and SYSU and expressed the hope that both universities will continue to leverage their respective strengths and join hands to enhance the quality of higher education in Guangdong and Macao and develop into first-class universities with Chinese characteristics.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/59548/

CAE academician to give talk on digital twin city at UM next Monday

The University of Macau will hold a talk titled ‘Digital Twin City: Engineering Logic and Technical Requirements’ on 18 November (Monday) as part of its University Lecture Series. The talk will be given by Guo Renzhong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), who will discuss the technical foundations, engineering logic, and a number of key technological innovations related to digital twin cities.

The talk will begin at 9:30am in the Lecture Hall of the Faculty of Health Sciences (E12-G004), and will be conducted in Mandarin. To register for the talk, please visit https://isw.um.edu.mo/evmapp/register/ULSGUOrz. For enquiries, please call +853 8822 8878 or email uls@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/presss-release/detail/59543/

UM holds third Festival of Chinese Culture

To promote Chinese culture and create an atmosphere conducive to learning Chinese culture on campus, in local schools and in the local community, the University of Macau (UM) is currently holding the third Festival of Chinese Culture, which runs from October to December. Through a series of creative activities, students have the opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese culture in a relaxed manner, thus sparking their interest in Chinese history and culture and enhancing their understanding of Chinese heritage.

The third Festival of Chinese Culture is organised by UM, with guidance from the Department of Education and Youth Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, the Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, the Macao Foundation, and the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau.

A series of warm-up activities and competitions have been held since the end of October, with core activities in full swing in November at the UM campus, UM’s base for the promotion of Chinese history and culture, as well as UM’s partner units in Henan, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Zhejiang. Some activities will continue until December. The festival features three core series of activities: 1) lectures, promotions, and educational activities on Chinese history and culture; 2) exhibitions, performances, and demonstrations on Chinese history and culture; and 3) forums, seminars, and debates on Chinese culture and Macao culture. There are more than 60 activities in total. For more details, please visit https://go.um.edu.mo/kt50bmva.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/59535/

UM students create videos to celebrate anniversaries of PRC and Macao SAR

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR, the Student Affairs Office of the University of Macau (UM) and the Communication Society of the University of Macau Students’ Union organised the second Video Shooting Competition. The competition attracted around 200 UM students, who created videos under the theme ‘City of Multi-culture’ to showcase Macao as a historic city that features multiculturalism. The team ‘See We’ won the championship.

Speaking at the event, Sou I, president of the Communication Society and coordinator of the competition, noted that video has become a popular means of communication nowadays, especially among young people. The competition, which used video as a medium, allowed participants to showcase Macao’s heritage sites, culinary delights, and festive activities using innovative and creative means.

The winning team’s video revolves around the protagonist’s personal experiences in Macao over the past decade and how the Macao Chinese Orchestra has promoted the integration of Chinese and Western cultures through Chinese music. The film shows how different cultures continue to flourish in Macao after the implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, and conveys a sense of cultural confidence. All the participating videos were uploaded to various social media platforms and together received nearly ten thousand likes, shares, and views in total.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/59523/

UM students win award at international genetic engineering competition

A team of undergraduate students from the University of Macau (UM) participated in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition 2024 held in Paris, competing against teams from top universities around the world. They won a silver medal for their research on developing a novel exosome-based therapeutic approach to target cancer cells. This is the sixth consecutive year that UM has received an award in the iGEM Competition.

This year’s iGEM Competition attracted the participation of more than 400 teams, which comprised over 5,000 students, from more than 50 countries and regions. Under the guidance of Professor Garry Wong and Associate Professor Lee Tsz On from the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), a team of 30 UM undergraduate students developed a research project titled ‘CarvengerX: Novel Exosomal Tumor Therapy Using Bidirectional Calcium Overload Platform Built with Synthetic Biology’. The team utilised genetic engineering techniques to develop an exosome ion channel delivery system capable of killing cancer cells. The research project focuses on developing a novel approach by engineering exosomes to deliver calcium ion channels (MscS or hTRPC1) and an NO signalling activator (hNOS2) to cancer cells, stimulating calcium overload and inducing cancer cell death. This innovative system has the potential to provide a specific, effective, and safe cancer therapy, offering new hope for patients who do not respond to existing treatments.

The student team devoted their spare time to designing the project and conducting experiments. They also organised outreach activities to engage with the community and continuously refined their project through communication with professors and frontline doctors. In addition, the team aligned their efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the aim of contributing to the development of cancer therapies. In mathematical modelling, the team created a calcium dynamic model, a protein molecular model, and a lentivirus transfection model, and used these models to predict experimental outcomes and improve experimental design through mathematical analysis.

Wei Ning, the team leader and a student from FHS and Cheng Yu Tung College, said that the team faced various challenges in communication and project development. However, the team members remained united and overcame all the difficulties together. Through the competition, they enriched their professional knowledge and made many like-minded friends.

Founded in 2003 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the iGEM Competition has become a global event that brings together student teams from around the world to address global challenges using synthetic biology knowledge and showcase the results of cutting-edge research. As a platform for healthy competition, the iGEM Competition not only fosters interdisciplinary scientific collaboration but also provides the public with an opportunity to witness new breakthroughs in the field of synthetic biology.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/59525/

Deputy secretary-general of Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao visits UM

Danilo Afonso Henriques, deputy secretary-general of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), visited the University of Macau (UM), and was warmly received by Rui Martins, vice rector of UM, and Hu Weixing, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS). During the meeting, the two parties exchanged views on strengthening economic and trade relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and explored potential areas of cooperation.

Vice Rector Martins said that the meeting provided an important platform for both parties to discuss new areas of research and academic collaboration and ways to address global challenges, and to explore the potential for future cooperation in various areas, including economic development, cultural exchange, and academic research.

During the visit, Dr Danilo delivered a speech titled ‘The Role of Forum Macao in the Context of the Greater Bay Area and Portuguese-speaking Countries’, discussing the role of Forum Macao in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its significance for Portuguese-speaking countries. He also explored Macao’s strategic importance as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

A key highlight of Dr Danilo’s visit was his interaction with FSS students and faculty. All the participating students were from the new course ‘Politics in Portuguese-speaking Countries’ offered by the Department of Government and Public Administration. The course aims to deepen students’ understanding of the political dynamics and governance of Portuguese-speaking countries and to foster a new generation of scholars and practitioners well-versed in the field.

In addition, Dr Danilo visited the University Gallery to learn about UM’s latest developments and achievements.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/59524/

UM holds events to commemorate Portuguese writer Maria Ondina Braga

The University of Macau (UM) has organised a seminar and an exhibition to commemorate renowned Portuguese writer Maria Ondina Braga, with the aim of celebrating the friendship between China and Portugal and Braga’s important contributions to literature and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Maria Ondina Braga was one of the most influential Portuguese writers of the 20th century. Her works, which cover a wide range of genres including novels, proses, and travelogues, vividly portray her life and observations in places such as Macao, India, and Angola. Her writing reflects her keen understanding of foreign cultures and her unique insights into intercultural communication, demonstrating the resonances and conflicts between different cultures, especially the complexity and depth of cultural exchange between China and Portugal. Braga’s unique intercultural experiences, especially her time in Beijing and Macao, have built a cultural bridge between China and Portugal.

Yao Jingming and Dora Nunes Gago, former professors in the Department of Portuguese at UM, were invited to the seminar ‘Images of Macau in the Work of Maria Ondina Braga’. During the event, Yao shared stories of his friendship with Braga. Gago, who won the 7th Maria Ondina Braga Grand Prize for Travel Literature for her work Palavras Nómadas, published in 2023, spoke about Braga’s life and writing experiences in Macao. The seminar was moderated by Manuela Carvalho, assistant professor in the Department of Portuguese.

The exhibition ‘“I came here to see the world”—The Life Journey of the Portuguese Writer Maria Ondina Braga’ features two interactive sessions, ‘Where is Maria?’ and ‘Continuation of Story’. It showcases Braga’s life experiences, excerpts from her works, published Chinese translations of her works, and theses on Braga’s works by postgraduate students in the Department of Portuguese. The exhibition is open to the public from today until 30 December at the Portuguese Corner on the second floor of the UM Wu Yee Sun Library (E2).

The events provide a platform for academic exchanges. They also offer the public a comprehensive understanding of Maria Ondina Braga and her works, allowing them to delve into the writer’s inner world and experience the convergence and integration of different cultures through her writings.

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/59510/

UM organiza eventos para comemorar a escritora portuguesa Maria Ondina Braga

A Universidade de Macau (UM) organizou um seminário e uma exposição em homenagem à escritora bem-conhecida portuguesa Maria Ondina Braga, com o objectivo de celebrar a amizade entre a China e Portugal e os importantes contributos de Braga para a literatura e o intercâmbio cultural entre os dois países.

Maria Ondina Braga é uma das escritoras portuguesas mais influentes do século XX. As suas obras, que abrangem uma vasta gama de géneros, incluindo romances, prosas e textos de viagem, retratam de forma viva a sua vida e observações em locais como Macau, Índia e Angola. A sua escrita reflecte o seu profundo conhecimento das culturas estrangeiras e a sua visão única da comunicação intercultural, demonstrando as ressonâncias e os conflitos entre diferentes culturas, especialmente a complexidade e a profundidade do intercâmbio cultural entre a China e Portugal. As experiências interculturais únicas de Braga, especialmente a sua estadia em Pequim e Macau, fizeram dela uma ponte cultural entre a China e Portugal.

Yao Jingming e Dora Nunes Gago, professor emérito e ex-professora do Departamento de Português da UM, foram convidados para o seminário “Imagens de Macau na Obra de Maria Ondina Braga”. Durante o evento, Yao partilhou histórias da sua amizade com Braga. Gago, cuja obra Palavras Nómadas, publicada em 2023, ganhou o 7º Grande Prémio de Literatura de Viagem Maria Ondina Braga, falou sobre as experiências de vida e de escrita de Maria Ondina Braga em Macau. O seminário foi moderado por Manuela Carvalho, professor assistente do Departamento de Português.

A exposição “Eu Vim para Ver a Terra—A Viagem em Maria Ondina Braga” oferece duas sessões interactivas, ‘Onde está Maria?’ e ‘Continuação da história’. Apresenta as experiências de vida de Braga, excertos das suas obras, traduções chinesas publicadas das suas obras e teses sobre as obras dela elaboradas por estudantes de pós-graduação do Departamento de Português. A exposição está aberta ao público a partir de hoje e até 30 de dezembro no Cantinho Português, no segundo andar da Biblioteca Wu Yee Sun da UM (E2).

Os eventos constituem uma plataforma para intercâmbios académicos. Oferecem também ao público uma compreensão abrangente de Maria Ondina Braga e das suas obras, permitindo-lhes mergulhar no mundo interior da escritora e experimentar a convergência e integração de diferentes culturas através dos seus escritos.

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/press-release/detail/59510/

UM UltiMater opens, featuring exhibitors from Macao and mainland enterprises

The ‘UltiMater 2024 – The 3rd UM Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exhibition’, organised by the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) of the University of Macau (UM) with the support of UM’s Research Services and Knowledge Transfer Office and the Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute (ZUMRI), opened today (8 November). The exhibition, in collaboration with institutions from Wuxi, Shenzhen, and Foshan, features 80 projects covering areas such as Chinese medicine and ‘big health’, modern financial services, high-tech, and culture and creativity. The event has attracted representatives from government departments, incubators, enterprises, investment firms, and people from different sectors of the community to learn about the latest developments in industry-academia collaboration.

In her speech, UM Vice Rector Xu Jian said that the UltiMater, now in its third year, aims to showcase UM’s achievements in industry-academia collaboration to entrepreneurs, the business sector, investors, and public institutions, so as to facilitate industrial upgrading, diversified development, and cross-sector collaboration. UM will continue to give new impetus to Macao’s ‘1+4’ strategy for economic diversification, cultivate more innovative talent, foster a favourable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, and promote the development of Macao’s technology industry.

During the event, representatives from government departments, universities, research institutes, and enterprises from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao delivered speeches to share their insights on the theme ‘Innovation Integration, Radiating the 1+4 Diversified Development’. The award ceremony for the ‘2024 University of Macau & Bank of China Trophy UltiMater Entrepreneur Competition’ was also held. In addition, CIE provided guided tours of the exhibited projects to students from several local secondary schools, aiming to enhance their understanding of technological innovation.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/59509/