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/

 Macao Forum on China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education held at UM

The Macao Forum on China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education, organised by the University of Macau (UM) and presented by the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of UM, the Fundamental Industry Training Center of Tsinghua University and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education Research Center of China, was held at UM today (22 May). The forum aimed to promote exchanges and cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship education between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. Representatives of higher education institutions, experts, scholars, and UM faculty and students attended the forum to learn about new trends in innovation and entrepreneurship education at home and abroad.

Yonghua Song, rector of UM and director of the academic committee of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education Research Center of China, said in his speech that the forum was a good opportunity for the public to exchange experiences in innovation and entrepreneurship education and explore new models. He expressed hope that the forum could serve as a bridge for exchanges and cooperation between young people from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, and promote high-level exchanges and collaboration between industry and academia.

Hu Chuxiong, deputy secretary general of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education Alliance of China and deputy director of the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office of Tsinghua University, said that innovation and entrepreneurship education is an important part of higher education development in the 21st century. Faced with the challenges and opportunities in the digital age, higher education institutions must adopt a proactive approach.

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/58373/

UM Vice Rector Michael Hui receives Honorary Fellowship from CUHK

Michael Hui, vice rector of the University of Macau (UM), interim director of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics & Management, and chair professor of the Department of Management and Marketing in the Faculty of Business Administration, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of marketing.

Prof Hui’s teaching and research focus on services marketing, consumer behaviour and cross-cultural marketing. His extensive research on services marketing has not only enriched the knowledge base of the academic community, but has also created a lasting impact on business practice and social development. He has taught at several universities in the UK and Canada. During his tenure at CUHK, Prof Hui received the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award from the Faculty of Business Administration and the Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award for his innovative teaching methods and research achievements. He has also published his research results in multiple international academic journals and is currently on the editorial board of several international academic journals. In addition to his contributions to teaching and research, Prof Hui is actively involved in public service and social affairs. He has taken up important positions such as chairman of the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board and member of the Hong Kong Consumer Council, and was awarded the Medal of Honour by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Prof Hui has extensive and exceptional management experience. He has held several key positions at CUHK, including associate dean and director of the BBA programme of the Faculty of Business Administration, associate pro-vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor/vice-president, and head of the Department of Marketing. At UM, he has made significant contributions to the university through his exemplary leadership and management skills. Despite his demanding teaching and research responsibilities, Prof Hui willingly shares his expertise to contribute to the advancement of society. Currently, he is also chairperson of the Consumer Relations Panel of the Hong Kong Travel Industry Authority, and he provides professional advice to the Public Administration Reform Consultation Committee of Macao.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Prof Hui obtained his BBA from CUHK in 1980, his CAAE (Certificat d’aptitude à l’administration des enterprises) from IAE Aix-en-Provence, France, and his PhD from London Business School. He joined CUHK in 1996, and was appointed vice rector (academic affairs) by UM in 2019 through a global recruitment and rigorous selection process. Prof Hui has made substantial contributions to the academic and educational communities.

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/58372/

UM, Tongji University jointly hold symposium on frontier science

The UM-Tongji Frontiers Science Center Joint Symposium, jointly organised by the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) of the University of Macau (UM), the Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology (FSCPO) of UM and the Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research of Tongji University, was held at UM. The symposium brought together many experts, researchers, students and healthcare professionals in the field of biomedical sciences.

In his speech, Ge Wei, vice rector of UM, said that UM has made tremendous progress in research development over the past decade, particularly in the university’s strategic research areas such as precision oncology. In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024, UM entered the top 200 for the first time in clinical and health subjects. In addition, the stem cell research team led by Xu Renhe, associate dean of FHS, has received a grant from the National Key R&D Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. Their research project is also the first project on stem cells and organ repair in Macao to have received such grant, demonstrating UM’s research excellence in clinical and health sciences.

Gao Shaorong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, dean of the School of Life Sciences and Technology at Tongji University and director of the Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research of Tongji University, said that he and his delegation were honoured to be invited to attend the symposium. He also expressed hope that in addition to the establishment of the Joint Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory of University of Macau–Tongji University in 2020, the two universities will conduct more high-level interdisciplinary collaborations through this academic platform.

Under the theme ‘Cell Fate & Disease’, the symposium featured 16 academic presentations on the latest research development, translation, and challenges in precision oncology and stem cell research. The presentations were delivered by leading scientists from the two frontier science centers, including Gao Shaorong; Yue Rui, vice dean of the School of Life Sciences and Technology at Tongji University and vice director of the Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research of Tongji University; Mao Zhiyong, director of the Clinical and Translational Research Center of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to Tongji University; Li Chong, executive deputy director of the Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research of Tongji University; Chuxia Deng, dean of FHS and chief scientist of FSCPO at UM; as well as Xu Renhe and Chen Guokai, scientists of FSCPO at UM. They discussed topics including epigenetic regulation of early embryo development and somatic cell reprogramming, hematopoietic stem cell rejuvenation, stem cells for therapeutic application and cancer research, and strategies to identify and overcome cancer drug resistance.

The symposium was the first academic event organised by UM in collaboration with the two prestigious national research centers. It not only brought together the leading experts and scholars in the fields of precision oncology and stem cell research, but also provided an excellent exchange platform for interdisciplinary and innovative research collaboration to further promote technological advances in medical sciences for the benefit of human health.

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/58359/

UM holds seminar on process of rule of law and 25th anniversary of Macao’s handover

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, the Faculty of Law and the Centre for Macau Studies of the University of Macau (UM) jointly organised the seminar ‘Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th Anniversary of the Macao SAR: Process of the Rule of Law and the 25th Anniversary of Macau’s Handover: Challenges, Achievements, and Future Directions’ to review the achievements and challenges of the legal system of the Macao SAR. The seminar brought together legal experts and scholars from mainland China, Macao and Portugal, professionals from legislative departments and judicial departments, legal practitioners, as well as UM faculty and students.

During the keynote session, guest speakers discussed the progress of the rule of law, Macao’s legal order, Macao’s mediation system, the challenges in legal education, and the path to modernisation and reform of Macao’s criminal law under the guidance of the Macao Basic Law. The seminar was then divided into two special sessions: ‘One Country, Two Systems and the Macao Basic Law’ and ‘Private Law’. About 20 scholars made presentations on topics including the implementation and enforcement of the Macao Basic Law, inter-regional mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the enhancement of maritime law, the convergence of commercial laws between mainland China and Macao, cross-border mobility between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, mental health and other related legal issues. They also engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges with other experts and scholars.

Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said that as the cradle of Macao’s legal professionals and the only public university in the world to offer undergraduate programmes in Macao law, UM has been committed to cultivating professionalism and patriotism among its students over the years. The university has not only produced a large number of socially responsible and innovative legal professionals, but has also contributed greatly to popularising the Basic Law and fostering the ‘love the country, love Macao’ spirit. The university has also played a fundamental role in promoting patriotic education in the SAR by including the Constitution and the Basic Law in its general education curriculum, organising relevant training courses in cooperation with the Education and Youth Development Bureau, compiling teaching materials on the Constitution, and establishing the Macao Base for Primary & Secondary Education in Humanities & Social Sciences.

Leong Weng In, director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, pointed out that the Macao SAR Government has strengthened exchanges and cooperation with legal departments in mainland China and Hong Kong in recent years. With close communication and cooperation between Macao and Guangdong, the construction of the rule of law in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has progressed in an orderly manner. The two places have also explored the soft connectivity of legal rules and mechanisms, which has gradually allowed Macao and Hong Kong lawyers, tourism practitioners, construction and engineering professionals, as well as medical and pharmaceutical technicians from Macao to practise in the Cooperation Zone, thus promoting the deep integration between Macao and Hengqin. She hopes that different sectors in Macao can apply the rule of law in their work planning and problem solving, and explore the optimal direction and path for the development of the rule of law in Macao and the construction of the rule of law in the Cooperation Zone.

Tong Io Cheng, dean of the Faculty of Law (FLL) at UM, stressed that legal education in Macao is rooted in the Macao system and its mission is to train innovative legal professionals in the context of comprehensive law-based governance. It has three fundamental orientations: training legal professionals, bridging China and Portugal, and pursuing academic excellence. At the same time, legal education in Macao also faces five challenges: the transformation of educational philosophy, the decline in the birth rate, the advancement of technology, the professionalisation of the legal profession, and the integration of the legal system in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He added that FLL will continue to forge ahead and contribute to the prosperity of legal education in Macao and the progress of a society governed by the rule of law.

Agnes Lam, director of the Centre for Macau Studies (CMS) at UM, said that Macao’s legal system integrates the characteristics of China and Portugal, which brings both advantages and challenges. Before the handover, the centre actively engaged in promoting the localisation of laws, organising discussions between scholars, and publishing research. After the handover, the centre has consistently engaged in promoting research on the legal practice of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy. In recent years, CMS has also taken part in promoting legal harmonisation and the mutual recognition of certificates and licences in the Greater Bay Area. In addition, the centre’s Journal of Macau Studies has published more than 200 legal articles since its first issue in 1988, covering a wide range of legal issues in the 40 years before and after the handover. She added that CMS will continue to uphold its mission of anchoring and pursuing research on society for the development of Macao.

Guests, experts and scholars attending the seminar also included Wang Heng, director of the Legal Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Vong Hin Fai, president of the Macao Lawyers Association; Jorge Bacelar Gouveia, professor in the School of Law of NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal; Fang Quan, dean of the Faculty of Law at the Macau University of Science and Technology; Leng Tiexun, director of the “One Country, Two Systems” Research Centre at the Macao Polytechnic University; Iau Teng Pio, associate dean of FLL; Jiang Chaoyang, director of the Centre for Constitutional Law and Basic Law Studies of FLL; Li Zhe, head of the Department of Macao Legal Studies of FLL; Lok Wai Kin, professor in FLL; Zhao Guoqiang, adjunct professor in FLL; and Jiang Yiwa, senior instructor in FLL.

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/58357/

President of Beihang University leads delegation to visit UM

A delegation led by Wang Yunpeng, president of Beihang University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, visited the University of Macau (UM) today (20 May) and was warmly received by Yonghua Song, rector of UM. The two parties held in-depth discussions and exchanges, with a view to deepening cooperation in research and student exchange between the two universities.

Song said that UM is committed to nurturing talent who love the country and Macao and building a strong educational system. He added that Beihang University is an important partner of UM, and, over the years, the two universities have enjoyed fruitful cooperation in faculty and student exchanges, as well as academic and research projects. He also expressed hope that the two universities will continue to complement each other’s strengths and work together to promote cooperation in areas such as communications, computer engineering and smart cities, as well as the joint training of outstanding engineering talent. In addition, the delegation visited the UM Wu Yee Sun Library, the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City and the University Gallery, and spoke highly of UM’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/campus-news/detail/58349/

UM awards outstanding student athletes

The Office of Sports Affairs (OSA) of the University of Macau (UM) held the 2023-2024 UM Sports Awards Presentation Ceremony to commend outstanding student athletes and to thank donors for their support of sports scholarships. The total amount of sports scholarships for this year increased to MOP 480,000, and 12 outstanding athletes and 19 most valuable athletes were awarded scholarships.

As of April this year, UM sports teams had won 58 gold medals, 46 silver medals, and 62 bronze medals in the 2023/2024 academic year. Mok Kai Meng, vice rector of UM, thanked the organisations and individuals for their support of UM’s sports development, as well as all the coaches and student athletes for their hard work and contributions. In addition, 32 coaches, 57 captains, vice captains and assistants of university sports teams, and 63 loyal athletes received the certificates of appreciation. Certificates were also presented to 32 student trainees from the Train the Trainer (T.T.T.) Programme and 20 student volunteers from the UM Sports Volunteer Programme (SVP).

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/58345/

UM Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine, CPTTM sign MOU

The Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine, University of Macau (MCTCM, UM), and the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center (CPTTM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the delivery service for lab test, with the aim of promoting Macao’s ‘1+4’ strategy for economic diversification and the development of the Chinese medicine industry.

In the presence of UM Vice Rector Xu Jian, MCTCM Director Li Shaoping and CPTTM Deputy Director General Chang Chak Io signed the MOU. Xu also gave the CPTTM delegation an overview of UM’s commercialisation of research results. She expressed hope that the industry will gain a better understanding of the university’s industry-academia collaboration through CPTTM. According to the MOU, Chinese medicine companies in Macao can send their samples to MCTCM for testing through CPTTM, and the testing costs will be subsidised.

After the signing ceremony, the CPTTM delegation visited MCTCM, and both parties had discussions on the development of the health and traditional Chinese medicine industry, the commercialisation of research results, technical training and other related areas of cooperation. Both parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in the future.

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/58344/

UM holds China Economic and Business Forum

The Faculty of Business Administration (FBA) of the University of Macau (UM) held the China Economic and Business Forum 2024, which brought together more than 200 esteemed scholars, business elites and UM students to engage in insightful discussions on the future development of China’s economy and business.

At the opening ceremony, Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said that UM is committed to nurturing high-calibre talent who love the country and Macao and contributing to the building of a strong educational system. He said that the forum not only aimed to promote the prosperous development of China’s business and economy, but also to develop outstanding talent with innovation and international outlook.

The forum featured several keynote speeches by esteemed scholars. Lin Yifu, dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, highlighted the uniqueness of China’s economic development and discussed the innovation and application of the theories of new structural economics in the process of modernisation. Other speakers addressed the complexity and multidimensionality of the Chinese economy, the impact of the changes in the China-US relations on the Chinese economy, and China’s financial policy in the context of global industrial transformation. In addition, Yu Jun, dean of FBA and Fu Xiaoqing, programme director of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme, each moderated a round-table discussion. Business elites shared their insights into the challenges and opportunities facing China’s economy and their experiences in entrepreneurship. The forum not only provided participants with the latest news on China’s economy and business, but also offered in-depth insights into China’s economic development.

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/58334/

UM graduating students organise CommFest

Graduating students of the Department of Communication of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Macau (UM) organised CommFest 2024, which attracted the participation of students, faculty, and people from different sectors of the community. With the theme ‘Youthful Heart, Freedom Start’, this year’s CommFest aimed to provide participants with an unforgettable experience of personal growth and self-discovery.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lei Choi San, representative of the organising committee of CommFest 2024 and a student of the Department of Communication, said that CommFest, which reached its 23rd edition this year, has been an annual event for the graduating students of the Department of Communication at UM since 2000. It allows the students to apply and demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and professional skills in the field of communication and event organisation.

The week-long event is packed with activities, including talks, workshops, a fair, an interactive exhibition, a film screening, and an electronic music festival. The students also presented their final year projects during the event, including a book titled City Walk in Macau (Communicator 2024) and a magazine titled LIF(V)E! (UM Bridges).

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/58332/