UM National Flag Team engages in exchange with Tsinghua University counterpart

The national flag team of Tsinghua University visited the University of Macau (UM) and participated in a flag-raising ceremony demonstration performed by the UM National Flag Team. The event allowed members of the national flag teams from both universities to engage in further exchanges following the UM National Flag Team’s visit to Tsinghua University in 2022. After the demonstration, the two national flag teams held a discussion session, where members from both universities introduced their team structures, operations, and future development prospects.

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/58942/

UM, PKU, Tsinghua, and ZJU celebrate dual anniversaries with music and dance performances

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of the Macao SAR, the University of Macau (UM) organised the ‘Dancing to the Rhythm of Youth’: Dual Celebration Students Variety Show and invited students from Peking University (PKU), Tsinghua University, and Zhejiang University (ZJU) to join UM students in collaborative performances. A total of more than 1,100 people took part in this spectacular audiovisual feast.

Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said in his opening speech that the students from the four universities showcased their artistic talents through the variety show. He encouraged the young people to bring about more positive changes and contribute to a brighter future for Macao and the country. The variety show featured an array of programmes, starting with the national anthem and the university anthem performed by the UM Choir and Symphonic Band. Students from the four universities also presented a series of captivating performances of folk music, dragon and lion dance, a cappella, cheerleading dance infused with Chinese elements, African drumming, and martial arts. The show showcased the traditional Chinese culture and the integration of different cultures.

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/58928/

Macau-Digit Force Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Interaction inaugurated

The University of Macau (UM) and Macau Digit Force Technology Co Ltd held a plaque unveiling ceremony for the University of Macau-Digit Force Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Interaction on 21 August. The joint laboratory will focus on assisting various industries in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to create new productivity models and promote the rapid development of AI technology. It aims to set an example for industry-academia collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and foster deeper integration and technological innovation between Macao and the Greater Bay Area.

Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said in his speech that UM has made significant progress in human-computer interaction and AI technologies in recent years. The strategic partnership with Macau Digit Force and the establishment of the joint laboratory will further enhance the development of intelligent interaction technologies, and facilitate the effective translation of research results through innovative approaches for the benefit of society.

Liu Zhenfeng, CEO of Macau Digit Force, said that many sub-industries have already transformed from analogue to digital and from the Internet to the Internet of Things. He believes that the next significant change will be from the Internet of Everything to the Artificial Intelligence of Things. He expressed hope that through cooperation, Macau Digit Force and UM will jointly advance the commercialisation of large-scale AI models in health spaces, smart elderly care, and other sub-industries, thus contributing to the high-technology industry in Macao and the Greater Bay Area. Founded in 2024, Macao Digit Force is a subsidiary of Zhuhai Digital Power Technology Co Ltd. Focusing on ‘digital home’ as its core development direction, the company is dedicated to driving technological innovation and industrial development of smart home devices and has gained widespread recognition in the industry.

Looking ahead, UM plans to cooperate with more enterprises with strong research capabilities and technological advantages, so as to further deepen industry-academia collaboration within the region and lay a foundation for building a smart society in Macao and the Greater Bay Area.

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/58924/

UM English Debating Team wins championship in national competition

The English Debating Team of the University of Macau (UM) won the championship in the Star of Outlook National College English Debating Competition, triumphing over universities from across the country. The grand final will be broadcast on CCTV, allowing audiences nationwide to witness the exceptional performance of the UM students.

In the preliminary rounds, Ali Omar Kassana Jimenez (student in the Faculty of Science and Technology, Honours College, and Chao Kuang Piu College) and Wang Hanyu (student in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Honours College, and Cheng Yu Tung College) of the UM English Debating Team competed against top debaters from mainland universities. Throughout the five rounds of debates, Omar and Wang demonstrated exceptional speaking skills and strategic thinking. They advanced to the semi-finals with the second-highest score and ranked among the top ten best speakers, and earned a place in the grand final.

Zhu Shuairong (student in the Faculty of Business Administration and Cheng Yu Tung College) and Wang Hanyu represented the UM English Debating Team and competed against three other finalist teams in the grand final held in Beijing. The duo presented their arguments with clarity, sound reasoning, convincing points, and exceptional debating skills, which impressed the judges and earned them the championship title. The entire competition was filmed by China Central Television (CCTV).

The competition followed the format of a British Parliamentary debate, where students had to demonstrate their logical reasoning, public speaking, and listening skills in competition with students from universities across the country. The competition also promoted academic exchange and British Parliamentary debate style.

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/58918/

Award ceremony for GBA outstanding young entrepreneurs held in Hong Kong and Macao

The 5th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Award Ceremony, organised by the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union, was held simultaneously in Hong Kong and Macao today (27 August), with the Macao venue at the University of Macau (UM). A total of 125 young entrepreneurs who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the Greater Bay Area were honoured, including ten from Macao, five of whom are UM alumni.

More than 3,000 people attended the award ceremony, including government officials from the Hong Kong and Macao SARs. Lei Wai Nong, secretary for economy and finance of the Macao SAR, said in his speech that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the development plan of the Greater Bay Area. As a hub of reform and opening-up, the Greater Bay Area is undergoing transformative changes driven by new quality productive forces, which brings both opportunities and challenges. He also expressed hope that young entrepreneurs will demonstrate social responsibility and resilience, and leverage their strengths to contribute to the country.

Following a professional and rigorous selection process, and independent evaluations by academic institutions and experts, ten young Macao entrepreneurs were selected for six awards. Among them, five are UM alumni: Cynthia Chong, director and executive vice president of New Orient Landmark Hotel and executive director and CFO of San Tung Fong (Group) Company Limited, was awarded the Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Award; Emily Chan, founder of E.C. Film Production Company Limited, was awarded the Best Cultural and Creative Award; Oscar Chen, CEO and general manager of the Digifluidic Biotech Ltd, was awarded the Best Technological Innovation Award; Steven Wang, president of Blue Angel Investment Corporation Limited, was awarded the Best Social Responsibility Award; and Ieong Seak Meng, general manager of Alpha Solution Company Limited and Magellan Investment Development Company Limited, was awarded the Best Business Service Award.

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/58914/

Chairman of Bank of China leads delegation to visit UM

A delegation led by Ge Haijiao, chairman of the board of the Bank of China, visited the University of Macau (UM) today (27 August) to learn about the university’s education achievements and latest developments. The delegation was warmly received by Lam Kam Seng Peter, chair of the University Council of UM, and Yonghua Song, rector of UM.

Song expressed gratitude to the Bank of China for supporting UM, the development of higher education in Macao, and the training of finance professionals in Macao. He gave the delegation an overview of UM’s history and development, and highlighted the university’s commitment to nurturing talent who love the country and Macao and producing more research results to help the Macao SAR promote economic diversification and integrate into national development. Ge spoke highly of UM’s achievements, and said that the university’s rapid development in recent years was impressive. Both parties expressed their desire to leverage their respective strengths to deepen cooperation in the training of modern finance professionals and industry-academia collaboration.

The delegation also visited the BOC Centennial Building and the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), where Yu Jun, dean of FBA, and Lei Chun Kwok, associate head of the Department of Finance and Business Economics, presented the latest developments of the faculty.

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/58911/

UM holds opening ceremony for first intake of Doctor of Public Health programme

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) of the University of Macau (UM) held an opening ceremony for the 2024/2025 intake of the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) programme. The programme has admitted 25 public health and healthcare professionals from across the country, including public health administrators, decision makers from centres for disease control and prevention, doctors, and head nurses.

Speaking at the event, Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said that the world is currently facing various health challenges, and that public health has a crucial role to play in improving public health standards and addressing challenges such as infectious diseases and public health emergencies. Highlighting Macao’s strategic location at the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, one of the most economically vibrant and internationally influential regions in China, Song added that UM actively engages in regional and international cooperation and exchanges to promote innovation and development in public health. He also encouraged the students to leverage the university’s strategic positioning in the Greater Bay Area and its extensive experience in international cooperation to explore, innovate, and achieve excellence in the field of public health.

Chuxia Deng, dean of FHS, gave an overview of the latest developments of FHS, and said that the DrPH programme aims to train health professionals with leadership skills to make more contributions to the healthcare sector in Macao, the Greater Bay Area, mainland China, and the international community. Xiang Yutao, head of the Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, provided detailed information about the programme, including programme characteristics, development plan, curriculum, and graduation requirements.

The ceremony was also attended by Shen Hanming, associate dean of FHS, and Hu Yuanjia, associate head of the Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration.

Designed for public health and healthcare professionals, the DrPH programme aims to develop leaders capable of addressing complex public health issues. The curriculum covers core areas of public health, such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and management, with an emphasis on gaining practical experience and developing leadership skills. Admissions are now open for the 2025/2026 intake. For more information and admission, please visit: https://fhs.um.edu.mo/en/doctor-of-public-health/.

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/58908/

Over 100 experts from home and abroad discuss smart city development at UM

The State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City (SKL-IOTSC) of the University of Macau (UM) held the 4th Macao International Conference on Smart City Technologies. Themed ‘Powering Resilient and Sustainable Cities: Innovations in AIOT’, this year’s conference brought together more than 100 experts and scholars from home and abroad to explore key strategies, cutting-edge interdisciplinary theories, key technologies, and applications for smart city development.

Yonghua Song, rector of UM and director of SKL-IOTSC, was the general chair of the conference. In his opening speech, Song emphasised the critical role of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things technologies in disaster prevention and mitigation, highlighting their indispensable contributions to the pursuit of urban resilience and sustainable development of cities worldwide. He added that the conference provided an excellent platform for researchers, scholars and professionals in related fields to share novel theories and experiences in smart city development, fostering deeper collaborations between industry and technology sectors.

Keynote speakers at the conference included Mark Girolami, professor at the University of Cambridge; Ramteen Sioshansi, professor at Carnegie Mellon University; Ahsan Kareem, professor at the University of Notre Dame; Hao Hong, Distinguished Professor at Curtin University. In addition, the panel discussion titled ‘Critical Issues in Internet of Things Technologies for Disaster Mitigation’, moderated by Yuen Ka Veng, Distinguished Professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology at UM, attracted many scholars to engage in discussions.

This year’s conference followed the format of previous editions, providing a platform for participants to engage in multidimensional and interdisciplinary exchanges, and for scholars and industry practitioners from around the world to present original and significant research findings. Focusing on smart communication, big data, smart energy, autonomous driving, urban safety and disaster prevention, the conference showcased a range of smart city development projects, and the latest research results in artificial intelligence technologies.

The conference was co-organised by the Faculty of Science and Technology of UM, the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao SAR, the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau, UMTEC Limited, the Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Smart Cities. It is sponsored by the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions, the Hengqin Digital Zero-Carbon Island Shared Laboratory, and NEIIC. The event was also sponsored and supported by Huawei Services (Hong Kong) Co Ltd Macau Branch, CTM, and various departments of the Macao SAR Government, including the Economic and Technological Development Bureau, the Cultural Affairs Bureau, and the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau. The conference was also attended by Leong Weng Kun, director of the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau; Ip Chong Wa, deputy director of the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau; Ho Hong Pan, acting vice president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau; Lei Chon Kit, acting chief of the Technology Department of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau.

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/58896/

UM holds opening ceremony for first intake of DFA and MFA programmes

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) of the University of Macau (UM) held an opening ceremony for the 2024/2025 intake of the Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programmes. The two programmes have admitted a total of about 50 outstanding artists from different places this year.

During the ceremony, Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said that art is a vital component of human civilisation, and that art education plays a crucial role in fostering creativity, critical thinking, imagination, independent thinking, and lifelong learning among students. He added that the Department of Arts and Design has an outstanding faculty team and teaching resources, and is committed to cultivating professional artists with a global perspective through the DFA and MFA programmes.

Li Jun, head of the Department of Arts and Design of FAH, gave an overview of the strengths of the department and the unique aspects of the two programmes. He mentioned that the department boasts eminent art historians and accomplished artists who are dedicated to high-level art research and innovative artistic creation. He also expressed hope that the students will draw inspiration from Macao, and integrate the Chinese, Western, ancient, and modern elements to create a new chapter in the world of art.

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/58895/