UM presents Teaching Excellence Award

At the Congregation 2024 held today (2 June), the University of Macau (UM) presented the Teaching Excellence Award to one faculty member in recognition of his outstanding teaching performance. The recipient for the 2023/2024 academic year is Wong Fai, associate professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST).

Every year, the recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award is selected by a selection committee from nominees, who are faculty-level teaching award recipients, through a rigorous process. Selection criteria include the following: teaching philosophy, depth of knowledge in the subject area, outstanding communication skills and teaching effectiveness, outstanding contributions to the quality of curriculum development, the ability to promote student learning by stimulating and sustaining the intellectual development of students, innovative approach to teaching and learning, and leadership in promoting teaching excellence within and outside the university.

Prof Wong felt honoured to receive the award and expressed his gratitude to the university for the recognition. He is committed to curriculum reform, educational innovation, and the promotion of professional certifications. Regarding his teaching approach, Prof Wong implements research-based methods that integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications, enabling students to apply their knowledge flexibly. Furthermore, Prof Wong promotes self-directed learning to empower students to take control of their education, thus developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Prof Wong believes that a good teacher should not only facilitate students’ academic development, but also nurture them into responsible citizens who can make achievements beyond the classroom and make active contributions to society.

Prof Wong joined UM in 1998 as a research fellow in FST. He obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UM, and earned his PhD from Tsinghua University. With research interests encompassing natural language processing, machine translation, computational linguistics, and machine learning. Prof Wong has published over 170 academic papers. His significant contributions to the field have been recognised with the Second Prize in the Technological Invention Award and the Second Prize in the Science and Technology Progress Award of the Macao Science and Technology Award, which he received in 2022 and 2012 respectively. The research projects supervised by Prof Wong have also received awards in competitions in Macao and the Asia-Pacific region. He was also awarded the Teaching Excellence Award by FST for the 2023/2024 academic year. One of Prof Wong’s notable achievements is the development of a pioneering Portuguese-Chinese machine translation system. He currently serves as the head of the Natural Language Processing & Portuguese-Chinese Machine Translation Laboratory (NLP²CT Lab) at UM.

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/58431/

UM presents academic prizes to outstanding graduates

The University of Macau (UM) held the Academic Prize Presentation Ceremony 2024 today (31 May) and presented 15 academic prizes to 53 outstanding graduates in recognition of their remarkable performance in various disciplines. Over the past academic year, the university has awarded more than 60 scholarships and academic prizes to more than 400 students, with a total value of over MOP 4.2 million.

Speaking at the event, Yonghua Song, rector of UM, congratulated the scholarship recipients and expressed his gratitude to all the scholarship donors. He said that UM, with the tremendous support from the central and SAR governments, has developed into an international comprehensive public university. The university is also on its way to becoming an internationally recognised university of excellence by offering student-centred quality education, conducting research with international impact, and providing high-quality community services. Song encouraged the students to not only strive for excellence, but also to pay more attention to the development of Macao, the country and the world. They should share their knowledge with others, support their alma mater, participate in Macao’s development, integrate into national development, address global development needs, and strive to become innovators and leaders of tomorrow.

Zhang Mingzhu, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Portuguese Studies programme of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Honours College Certificate Programme, was awarded the Bank of China Academic Prize for her excellent academic performance. She expressed her gratitude to UM for giving her the opportunity to pursue Portuguese studies in depth, which has broadened her international perspective and facilitated her personal development. As a student of the Honours College, Zhang has gained a wealth of theoretical knowledge and developed her leadership skills. As a member of the English Public Speaking Team and the Portuguese Debating Team of UM, she has learned knowledge and skills about public speaking and debating, while gaining supportive friendships and invaluable guidance from teachers. Zhang hopes to engage in overseas project management in Chinese enterprises in the future, which will enable her to use the knowledge she has gained at UM to facilitate Chinese enterprises’ international development.

A total of 15 scholarships were presented at the ceremony: Henry Fok Foundation Academic Prize, Bank of China Academic Prize, Luso International Bank Academic Prize, ICBC Macau Academic Prize, MECOM Power – Hung Yip Group Academic Prize, BNU Academic Prize, Akrostar Academic Prize, Choi Kai Yau Academic Prize, Lou Tou Vo Mathematics Academic Prize, Jorge Alvares Foundation Academic Prize, WICH Law Firm and Private Notary Academic Prize, X Fintech Asia Academic Prize, LECM Academic Prize, ERS Academic Prize, and MIL Law Office Academic Prize.

List of awarded students: https://sds.sao.um.edu.mo/3d-flip-book/scholarship/

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/58430/

UM signs cooperation agreement with Sacred Heart Canossian College on promotion of Chinese history and culture

The Centre for Chinese History and Culture of the University of Macau (UM) and Sacred Heart Canossian College (SHCC) signed a cooperation agreement on the promotion of Chinese history and culture. SHCC is the 13th school in Macao to join UM’s base for the promotion of Chinese history and culture. According to the agreement, the two parties will jointly organise a series of outreach activities to promote Chinese history and culture in Macao, deepen students’ understanding of Chinese history and culture, and cultivate talent who love the country and Macao.

The agreement was signed by representatives of UM and SHCC. Li Defeng, associate dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, said that the agreement will provide students of SHCC with more opportunities to learn about Chinese history and culture, and cultivate affection for home country and cultural confidence among them. So Ying Suen, principal of SHCC, expressed hope for future cooperation between the two parties, such as more outreach activities to promote Chinese culture.

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/58428/

UM faculty and student win award in national essay competition

A faculty member and a student in the Faculty of Law (FLL) at the University of Macau (UM) won a third prize in a national essay competition on the ‘Fengqiao experience’ in the new era and the modernisation of social governance. The competition received 544 valid entries in total and the jury selected the winners for the first, second, and third prizes after rounds of assessments. UM’s winning paper, co-authored by Iau Teng Pio, associate dean and doctoral supervisor of FLL, and his doctoral student Li Yuhao, is a study on improving the mediation mechanism of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin from the perspective of the ‘Fengqiao experience’ in the context of the new era. It provides an insightful reference for promoting the construction of the rule of law and improving the quality of governance in the Cooperation Zone.

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/58425/

Tsinghua professor to give talk at UM on cultivation of innovative talent

As part of the University Lecture Series, the University of Macau (UM) will hold a talk titled ‘Elation in Learning and Teaching: The Practice and Thinking on Personalised Education in the Digital and AI Era’ on Monday 3 June. Zheng Quanshui, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chair professor of the Tsien Excellence in Engineering Program at Tsinghua University, will be the speaker. All are welcome to attend.

Zheng is an expert in solid mechanics as well as nano and micro mechanics, and is a pioneer in the technology and applications of structural superlubricity. He has also been dedicated to training top-notch talent for scientific and technological innovation in China. During the talk, Zheng will share his profound insights into the cultivation of innovative talent from his years of experience at Tsinghua University and the X-Institute in Shenzhen.

The talk will begin at 4:30pm in the Multi-function Hall of the UM Guest House (N1-G014) and will be conducted in Mandarin. To register for the talk, please visit https://isw.um.edu.mo/evmapp/register/ULSzhengqs. For enquiries, please call 8822 9099 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/58395/

President of Shenzhen University leads delegation to visit UM and forge higher education cooperation in GBA

A delegation led by Mao Junfa, president of Shenzhen University (SZU), visited the University of Macau (UM) today (29 May) and was warmly received by Yonghua Song, rector of UM. The two parties had in-depth discussions on promoting the joint training of postgraduate students and deepening academic and research collaboration, with the hope of working together to promote the coordinated development of higher education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Song said that UM and SZU share the same mission to serve the needs of the country and the development of the GBA. The two universities have established partnerships for more than 20 years and their cooperation in various areas have yielded fruitful results. He expressed hope that UM and SZU will continue to make full use of their geographical advantages and educational resources to promote the joint training of postgraduate students and strengthen academic and research collaboration, thereby contributing to the cultivation of top-notch talent and the development of an international education demonstration zone in the GBA.

The delegation also visited the University Gallery, the UM Library, and the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City. They spoke highly of the university’s campus facilities and research development.

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/58397/

UM National Flag Team promotes national flag culture in local secondary school

The National Flag Team of the University of Macau (UM) has organised a series of outreach activities in local schools to promote the national flag culture and cultivate the ‘love the country, love Macao’ spirit among young people in Macao. The team recently held an activity at Santa Rosa de Lima English Secondary School, which attracted the participation of many students and teachers. The team members observed the flag-raising ceremony conducted by the students of the school. They also engaged in exchanges with the students and gave them guidance on flag raising after the ceremony. The activity not only enabled the students to learn about the knowledge and culture associated with the national flag, but also deepened their sense of mission and sense of pride towards the national flag.

The National Flag Team has previously conducted outreach activities at Sacred Heart Canossian College (English Section) Macau, Pui Ching Middle School Macau, and the Affiliated School of the University of Macau. They will continue to visit more local primary and secondary schools and carry out exchange activities through various means, such as talks on the national flag culture, introduction of national flag teams, and demonstration of marching.

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/58389/

UM students’ final year projects favoured by industries in GBA

The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of the University of Macau (UM) held the FST Graduation Award Ceremony & Project Exhibition today (24 May) as part of the faculty’s 35th anniversary celebration. The exhibition showcased a total of 50 graduation projects and results by FST undergraduate and postgraduate students, covering a wide range of areas from basic sciences to cutting-edge technologies. More than 100 industry representatives, business executives, government officials, professors and students from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) visited the exhibition. Many industry representatives from the GBA gave recognition to the work of UM students.

Xu Cheng-Zhong, dean of FST, said in his speech that FST has been committed to innovative technology and talent cultivation, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary research. Over the years, the faculty’s final year project exhibition has demonstrated the successful application of classroom research outcomes in the industry, and expanded cooperation between enterprises and UM. FST has also continuously optimised its teaching and research systems, deepened its communication and cooperation with the industry, and cultivated high-calibre technology professionals who meet the needs of society, thereby building a talent pool for technological innovation and social development in the region and the world. He added that the faculty will continue to promote the industrialisation of technological achievements and enhance the effectiveness of industry-academia collaboration.

The exhibition showcased a total of 50 research projects and results by 30 undergraduate students and 15 master’s students in FST’s six departments, namely the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Computer and Information Science, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Department of Mathematics, and Department of Physics and Chemistry, in recognition of their outstanding performances. The exhibits covered a wide range of fields such as ocean monitoring, cultural heritage preservation, computer graphics and visual computing, health monitoring, architectural design, wireless charging, and artificial intelligence. The exhibition not only allowed the industry to appreciate the students’ creativity and discover their talents, but also provided a platform for the students to design products that make people’s lives more convenient and meet the needs of social development. Industry representatives from the GBA gave recognition to the work of UM students and believed that they will bring more innovative ideas and opportunities to the technological development of the GBA.

At the ceremony, the Best Master’s Student Awards were presented to master’s students in FST in recognition of their outstanding performances. Certificates were also presented to FST’s long-term internship partners to acknowledge their strong support for student internships over the years, which has enabled students to make a smooth transition from the classroom to the workplace, in addition to highlighting the faculty’s emphasis on practical teaching approach and in-depth cooperation with enterprises.

Guests attending the event included Cheang Kai Meng, acting president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau; Lao Lan Wa, deputy director of the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau; Lei Veng Hong, deputy director of the Transport Bureau; Carlos Roberto Xavier, head of the Department of Higher Education of the Education and Youth Development Bureau; Chan Chou Weng, head of the Technology Department of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau; Lo Man Son, head of the Department of Geophysics and Monitoring Planning of the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau; Cheang Kun Wai, member of the Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao; Zheng Lirong, deputy director of the Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology; Zhao Ti, deputy director of the Department of Education of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Sio Hon Pan, curator of the Macao Science Center; as well as representatives from more than a dozen of local enterprises including CEM, CTM, Sands China Limited, Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited, China Construction Engineering (Macau) Company Limited, and representatives from more than 20 enterprises in the GBA, including Guangdong Power Grid, Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai, Zhuhai Huafa Group Co Ltd, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd, and Guangzhou Chimelong Group Co Ltd.

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/58382/

UM organises BOC STEM Talent Challenge

The awards presentation ceremony of the 2023 BOC STEM Talent Challenge, organised by the Centre for Science and Engineering Promotion and the Alumni and Development Office of the University of Macau (UM) and supported by Macao Science Center, was held. The competition attracted the participation of more than 220 students and teachers from 15 local schools. A team from Pui Ching Middle School won the first prize for their project on a drone that uses the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to assist with construction site management.

The competition was supported by the BOC Macau for the third consecutive year. This year’s competition centred around the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System technology, with the aim of promoting technological innovation among young people in Macao and deepening their understanding of the country’s development in aerospace technologies. Participating students were required to integrate the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System with applications suitable for Macao’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and propose innovative technological solutions. Based on their theme, use of technology, innovation, scientific rigour and practicality, a total of 58 projects were selected to enter the second round of the competition. One first prize, one second prize, eight third prizes, and teacher awards were presented at the ceremony. In addition, the winning projects were exhibited at the ceremony venue to showcase the students’ learning outcomes and allow them to present their innovative work to guests.

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/58376/

UM Centre for Continuing Education offers course to train mediators in GBA

The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) of the University of Macau (UM) and the Macau Institute of Professional Mediators jointly offered the 12th edition of the Professional Mediation Certificate Course, with the aim of training qualified mediators in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The course covered the definition, procedures, skills and practices of mediation, as well as Macao’s laws relating to contracts, with a total of 48 study hours. Participants who completed the course and passed the assessment received a certificate jointly issued by CCE and the Macau Institute of Professional Mediators.

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/58374/