UM delegation visits several UK universities to promote cooperation

To deepen cooperation and exchanges with higher education institutions in English-speaking countries, Rui Martins, vice rector of the University of Macau (UM), led a delegation to visit several top universities in the Midlands and North West England from 26 to 28 February 2025. The aim of the visit is to promote cooperation in areas such as student and faculty exchanges, dual degree programmes, and joint research projects, as well as to explore potential cooperation across various disciplines.

Martins said that the visit is an important initiative for UM to strengthen its partnerships with higher education institutions in English-speaking countries. It has not only effectively promoted UM’s internationalisation strategy but also fostered mutual understanding between UM and leading UK institutions, laying a solid foundation for  substantive cooperation in teaching, scientific research, and student and faculty exchanges in the future. UM will continue to actively expand its partnerships with higher education institutions in English-speaking countries in order to further raise its international profile and cultivate high-end talent with a global perspective for the Macao SAR and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

During their time in the UK, the UM delegation visited the University of Warwick and was received by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Michael Scott. The two parties held a meeting to discuss cooperation in student and faculty exchanges, dual degree programmes, and joint research projects, and reached several agreements. Plans were made to establish undergraduate and postgraduate exchange programmes, dual degree programmes, and visiting scholar programmes in fields such as engineering, social sciences and education, and to hold academic seminars.

The UM delegation also visited the University of Leicester and met with Pro Vice-Chancellor Sarah Davies and several faculty representatives. They engaged in in-depth discussions on cooperation in computer science, engineering, and materials science. Both sides recognised the similarities in their academic structures and research layouts, and expressed optimism for future cooperation in dual degree programmes, student exchanges, and research collaboration. The two parties also agreed to sign a university-level memorandum of understanding to further promote disciplinary cooperation and exchange.

At the University of Nottingham, Martins co-chaired a meeting with Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor Nigel Mongan. The discussions focused on key disciplines such as education, Portuguese studies, social sciences, and engineering, with plans to systematically advance cooperation in student exchange programmes, dual degree programmes, and international academic conferences. Martins highlighted that the visit has laid a solid foundation for future academic exchanges and research collaboration between the two universities, with the hope of more fruitful outcomes in the future.

The UM delegation also visited the University of Sheffield and met with Vice-President Malcolm Butler and faculty representatives. The two parties focused on the strengths of both universities in electronic and electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, and education, and explored directions for future cooperation. Initial consensus was reached on establishing student exchange programmes, co-hosting academic forums, and developing innovative research projects.

At the University of Leeds, the UM delegation was received by Dean of Global Engagement Manuel Barcia Paz and held a meeting with representatives from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the School of Education. They discussed strengthening teaching and research collaboration in electronic and electrical engineering, chemistry, materials science, and education. Martins said that UM and the University of Leeds have a long-standing partnership, and have launched a double master’s degree programme in English studies this academic year. He expressed hope that the two universities will establish more dual degree programmes in other disciplines, and promote student and faculty exchanges and other academic collaboration.

At the University of Manchester, the UM delegation held discussions with representatives and scholars of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and explored research collaboration in the fields of computer science, electrical and electronic engineering, and materials science. The two parties exchanged views on the establishment of dual degree programmes and visiting scholar programmes, and reached an initial consensus on the establishment of dual degree programmes. The delegation toured the Photon Science Institute at the University of Manchester and the Henry Royce Institute, an institute for advanced materials research, and gained insights into the university’s outstanding achievements in cutting-edge research. In addition, Fan Lianghuo, dean of UM’s Faculty of Education, visited the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester and met with representatives in the field of education to discuss strengthening cooperation and exchange in related disciplines between the two universities.

The UM delegation also included Sun Handong, associate director of the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, and Sin Sai Weng, deputy director of the Institute of Microelectronics.

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/60444/

Delegation from University of Bath visits UM

A delegation led by Phil Taylor, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Bath, visited the University of Macau (UM) today (3 March) and was warmly received by Yonghua Song, rector of UM. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on deepening cooperation between the two universities and promoting talent development.

Song gave the delegation an overview of UM’s current development, the vision of the UM campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and the existing partnership between UM and the University of Bath. He looks forward to deepening cooperation with the University of Bath to enhance student and academic exchanges and nurture talent with a global perspective. Taylor also expressed hope to strengthen the partnership with UM to promote research development and academic innovation. The two parties also discussed deepening cooperation in areas such as smart city, renewable energy, health and sports science, and pharmacy, with potential initiatives identified, such as exchanges for doctoral students and research assistants, joint research projects, and faculty training.

The delegation also visited the University Gallery, the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City, and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine to learn about UM’s research achievements, talent development model, research layout, and the university’s plans for its campus in the Cooperation Zone. Taylor spoke highly of UM’s development and its achievements in scientific research.

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/60432/

UM students’ graduation project tells stories of Macao

Fourth-year students from the Department of Communication of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) at the University of Macau (UM) published their graduation project, UM Bridges Fall 2024—Citopia, on 15 January 2025. The publication features more than a dozen stories of people rooted in Macao, reflecting the students’ in-depth observations and reflections on Macao’s culture and social issues. To promote the publication, the students set up a booth at a community event, which attracted considerable attention.

UM Bridges is an English-language magazine produced by fourth-year students in UM’s Department of Communication. The publication allows students to apply their journalism, publishing, design, and event planning skills throughout the production process. The theme of the latest issue, ‘Citopia’, is a combination of ‘city’ and ‘utopia’, symbolising a vision for a better urban future. The magazine is divided into four sections—‘Heritage’, ‘Journey’, ‘Revival’, and ‘Evolution’—covering various topics such as immigration, gastronomy, transportation, and sports. It features articles on people in Macao with roots in Guangdong, the heritage of Macanese cuisine, the birth of the Macau Bridge, the passion of craftsmen, and the aspirations of young athletes in the sports and tourism sectors.

To promote UM Bridges and the stories of Macao to a wider audience, fourth-year students from UM’s Department of Communication set up a booth at a Lantern Festival event held at 10 Fantasia on 9 February 2025 to showcase the publication to the public and tourists. Daisy Kou, a member of the design team of UM Bridges and deputy editor-in-chief of the Chinese-language magazine Communicator, said: ‘Many people came to visit our booth and showed great interest in our publications, especially the English content of UM Bridges and the Chinese articles of Communicator. We are very happy to share the stories of Macao with everyone through our publications.’

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/60420/

UM experiential learning programme enhances international students’ understanding of Macao

The University of Macau (UM) held its inaugural Residential College Education Experiential Learning Programme ‘Empowering Your Future: Culture Immersion & Opportunity Exploration Experience in Macao’ from 14 to 19 January 2025. The programme aimed to enhance its international students’ understanding of Macao and UM. A total of 30 UM international students and 10 student ambassadors from the university’s residential colleges participated in a variety of cultural activities and visits to explore the advantages and development opportunities in Macao and at UM.

Participating international students agreed that the programme provided them with unforgettable experiences and strengthened their connections with local students. Ilja Stehle, a student from Germany, said that the programme allowed him to appreciate the beauty of the integration of Eastern and Western cultures, and the visits to Macao’s integrated resorts and entertainment complexes greatly enriched his business knowledge. Having been interested in Chinese martial arts since the age of seven, Stehle was thrilled to learn Nanquan during the programme. Mila Grau from the UK and Bernardo Fonseca Maia from Brazil both expressed their intention to recommend UM as a top choice for exchange and study to friends in their home countries.

At the opening ceremony, Rui Martins, vice rector of UM, welcomed and engaged with participants from around the world. The programme featured a rich array of activities organised by students and faculty from the residential colleges, including talks on various topics, site visits, and workshops. These activities gave the international students an insight into Macao’s history, urban development, special features, and unique political status. They visited Macao’s integrated resorts and entertainment complexes and gained insights into their development and the industry; experienced Chinese tea culture and learned brewing techniques from tea experts; learned Nanquan basics from Wong Sam In, a UM alumna and World University Games Nanquan champion; and gained knowledge of ancient Chinese architectural design principles, construction techniques, and their cultural significance by building a miniature bridge with Chinese characteristics. Guided by college fellows and professional tour guides, the international students explored Macao’s historical sites, walked through its streets and alleys, savoured local Macanese cuisine, and listened to stories about the Macanese people, immersing themselves in the city’s cultural diversity.

The programme concluded with a closing ceremony and a high table dinner. Speaking at the event, Mok Kai Meng, vice rector of UM, said that the aim of the programme was to enable international students to learn about the special features, advantages, development opportunities and potential of Macao and UM through experiential activities such as talks, site visits, and workshops. He also introduced UM’s residential college system, providing the international students with more information about its operation, initiatives, and role.

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/60403/

Secretary of CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee leads delegation to visit UM

A delegation led by Chen Yong, secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and secretary of the Hengqin Working Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, visited the University of Macau (UM) today (24 February) to learn about the university’s latest development layout and achievements in industry-academia collaboration. The delegation was warmly received by Yonghua Song, rector of UM. The two parties reached a broad consensus on strengthening cooperation between Macao and Zhuhai and the integrated development between Macao and Hengqin, as well as enhancing exchanges and cooperation in technological innovation and talent cultivation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Song thanked Zhuhai and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin for their continued support of UM. He said that UM aspires to become an internationally recognised university of excellence. The university will fully leverage the policy advantages of the  Cooperation Zone to expedite the development of the UM campus in the Cooperation Zone, deepen industry-academia collaboration with Zhuhai, and facilitate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements and the cultivation of high-calibre talent, thereby establishing the Greater Bay Area as an international centre for innovation and technology. Chen praised UM for its achievements in recent years, and expressed hope that Zhuhai and the Cooperation Zone will join hands with the university to create new models and opportunities to deepen cooperation between Zhuhai and Macao, facilitate the integrated development between Hengqin and Macao, and promote the integrated development of higher education in the Greater Bay Area.

The delegation also visited the University Gallery and the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City to gain a deeper understanding of UM’s transformation of scientific and technological achievements and research innovation.

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/60396/

CPPCC Standing Committee Member Wang Zhigang visits UM

Wang Zhigang, member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and vice chairman of the Committee on Education, Science, Health and Sports, and a delegation visited the University of Macau (UM) today (20 February) and were warmly received by UM Rector Yonghua Song and Vice Rector Ge Wei.

Wang spoke highly of UM’s achievements in innovation, research, and academia. He expressed hope that the university will continue to leverage its strengths, integrate into the country’s science and technology innovation system, and produce more outstanding talent for the Macao SAR and the country.

Song highlighted UM’s commitment to promoting technological innovation and talent cultivation, as well as advancing the country’s high-level educational opening-up. He added that the university will ensure the quality development of the campus in the Cooperation Zone and attract high-quality international scientific and technological resources to Macao and the Cooperation Zone, thereby establishing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an international centre for innovation and technology.

The delegation also visited the University Gallery and the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City to learn more about the transformation of scientific and technological achievements at UM and the university’s influence and competitiveness in research.

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/60384/

UM holds international symposium to promote development of STEM education

The Faculty of Education (FED) of the University of Macau (UM) held the International Symposium on STEM Literacy from 15 to 16 February 2025 to promote the implementation and teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. More than 200 participants attended the symposium in person or online. The event was supported by the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) of the Macao SAR Government and the UM Macao Base for Primary & Secondary STEM Education under the Centre for Science and Engineering Promotion of the UM Faculty of Science and Technology.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, UM Rector Yonghua Song encouraged students and faculty to invigorate global education through science. He also noted that with the establishment of the campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, UM is poised to make significant breakthroughs in disciplinary design, research collaboration, and internationalisation.

Fan Lianghuo, dean of FED, expressed hope that the symposium would spark new ideas, promote interdisciplinary innovation, and enhance the development of STEM education. Tang Wai Keong, head of the Department of Educational Resources of DSEDJ, said that Macao has been dedicated to enhancing students’ STEM literacy and upgrading its education system through teacher training and innovative education platforms to further promote the integration of technology and education and foster sustainable social development.

The symposium featured five internationally renowned scholars as keynote speakers, including Prof Lynn Bryan from Purdue University (US), Prof Sibel Erduran from the University of Oxford (UK), Prof David Fortus from the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), Prof Li Yeping from Texas A&M University (US), and Prof Gillian Roehrig from the University of Minnesota (US). It also included several parallel sessions to allow participants to engage in in-depth discussions on various topics.

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/60386/