Five colleges celebrate UM Henry Fok Pearl Jubilee College’s 15th anniversary

Henry Fok Pearl Jubilee College (HFPJC) of the University of Macau (UM) held a study camp from 12 to 16 January 2025 for faculty and students from Lee Woo Sing College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Diligentia College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Xiuzhong College of Tsinghua University, and Nanyang College of Xi’an Jiaotong University. During the camp, members of the five colleges gathered to celebrate the 15th anniversary of HFPJC.

HFPJC hosted a high table dinner as part of the study camp. At the dinner, UM Rector Yonghua Song delivered a speech, in which he highlighted HFPJC’s remarkable development over the past 15 years, and praised the college’s achievements in cultivating students’ leadership, global competitiveness, and responsible citizenship. He also encouraged HFPJC to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with colleges of universities at home and abroad. One of the highlights of the event was a choral performance of the song ‘Why We Sing’ by students of HFPJC and the visiting colleges, who impressed the audience with their enchanting and captivating performance.

In addition, faculty and students from the five universities participated in several visits. They visited the Exhibition Hall of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to learn about the development prospects of the Cooperation Zone. They visited the Hengqin branch of Yusys Technologies to gain insights into fintech innovation, and toured Serensia Woods to learn about the development concepts of wellness hotels. During their time in Macao, they explored the UNESCO World Heritage Historic Centre, green construction projects of resort hotels, and revitalisation projects in Taipa and Coloane. These visits enhanced their understanding of environmental protection and sustainable development. Sio Chio Ieong, assistant professor in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of UM, gave a talk titled ‘Macao is Not Just a City’, where members of the five universities learned about Macao’s inclusiveness from the aspects of its history, development, and cultural heritage. They also learned about the significance of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy in maintaining Macao’s long-term prosperity and stability.

Lu Jiaying, a student from UM HFPJC, said that the study camp enabled her to interact with students from different universities, gain a deeper understanding of the residential college system of different universities, and get inspiration for new ideas for college activities. Jidapa, a student from CUHK’s Lee Woo Sing College, noted that as a student from Thailand, she enjoyed meeting students from different universities and discovering cultural diversity through interaction with them. Chen Zeyuan, a student from CUHK-Shenzhen’s Diligentia College, mentioned that the visits gave him insights into mainland enterprises, which is useful for his academic and career development. Li Tianliang, a student from Tsinghua University’s Xiuzhong College, said that the study camp allowed him to experience Macao’s open and inclusive culture while witnessing the city’s efforts and achievements in sustainable development as a world centre of tourism and leisure. Yang Dongran, a student from Xi’an Jiaotong University’s Nanyang College, said that the exchange activities were inspiring and he gained new perspectives on how to organise events effectively, enhance participation, and promote teamwork.

The above activities not only provided valuable learning and exchange opportunities for faculty and students from the five universities but also laid the foundation for in-depth cooperation in residential college education, innovative practices, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.

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/60291/

UM Macao Humanities Forum discusses pedagogical grammar in international education of Chinese language

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) of the University of Macau (UM) held the Macao Humanities Forum, where Liu Lening, professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia University, delivered a lecture titled ‘Pedagogical Grammar: Its Status and Formation in the International Education of Chinese’. The lecture attracted a large audience of faculty and students.

Speaking at the event, Joaquim Kuong, assistant dean of FAH, highlighted the importance of learning Chinese, noting that it is one of the official languages of the United Nations and Macao. He said that new perspectives and approaches in pedagogical grammar can help address the challenges faced by Chinese language learners. Li Defeng, associate dean of FAH, introduced Prof Liu’s significant contributions to theoretical and applied linguistics, particularly in Chinese language education.

During the lecture, Prof Liu first discussed the background of how international Chinese education became a discipline in higher education, and presented an ontological perspective on the discipline. He pointed out that the core of international Chinese education research is the structure and function of Chinese as reflected in pedagogical grammar. With reference to construction grammar, Prof Liu redefined grammar as ‘reflections and results of actual language use’. He argued that grammar should be guided by the principles of accuracy, conciseness and sufficiency. He also advocated the incorporation of the latest findings in linguistics into pedagogy. Using three examples involving ‘來’ (lai, a Chinese verb meaning ‘come’ in English), Prof Liu illustrated the need for Chinese language teachers to explain subtle grammatical issues such as the different semantic roles of the phrases in a sentence. He also highlighted the importance of addressing the differences between learners from different linguistic backgrounds and their grammatical errors.

During the Q&A session, UM faculty and students raised questions about strategies for applying pedagogical grammar in teaching scenarios. Prof Liu noted that the current training of Chinese language teachers often focuses on teaching methods and intercultural communication, but neglects the linguistic foundation of Chinese itself. He encouraged Chinese language teachers to deepen their understanding of linguistics and linguistic research findings to transform their teaching practices. At the end of the forum, Xu Jie, dean of FAH, presented Prof Liu with a souvenir in appreciation of his insightful presentation.

This was the third lecture of the Macao Humanities Forum for the 2024/2025 academic year. Each year, the forum invites prominent scholars in different fields of the humanities to share their latest research findings with students and faculty members in Macao. Previous lectures of the forum have covered a wide range of topics, including literature, linguistics, history, translation, and arts.

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/60267/

UM-CUHK Symposium on Chinese Medicine and Immunology held at UM

The Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) of the University of Macau (UM) held the ‘UM-CUHK Symposium on Chinese Medicine and Immunology 2025’ on 18 January. The symposium brought together experts and scholars from both UM and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to discuss the latest advancements in the fields of Chinese medicine and immunology.

During the forum, Chen Xin, director of ICMS, introduced the organisational structure, research directions, talent cultivation, and faculty teams of ICMS and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (SKL-QRCM) of UM. He expressed hope that the two universities will further promote exchanges and cooperation. He also highlighted SKL-QRCM’s focus on ‘Research and Applications of Immunomodulatory Active Chinese Medicine’, which aims to promote basic research, development and application of the immunomodulatory effects of Chinese medicine.

Ten professors from UM and CUHK gave presentations during the forum, sharing the latest research advancements in the fields of Chinese medicine and immunology, as well as the role of Chinese medicine in immune regulation. The symposium promoted academic exchange between faculty and students from both universities, and laid the foundation for future cooperation. ICMS and SKL-QRCM will continue to leverage the advantages of Chinese medicine in immunology to promote the basic research, development and application of Chinese medicine.

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/60260/

UM organises NSFC briefing of regional liaison network for Hong Kong and Macao

The 2025 Briefing of the Regional Liaison Network for Hong Kong and Macau of National Natural Science Foundation of China, organised by the University of Macau (UM), was held at City University of Hong Kong on 21 January. The briefing aimed to enhance the understanding of NSFC’s policy changes and funding situation in Hong Kong and Macao among the member institutions of the liaison network. It also provided a platform for exchange and laid the solid foundation for scientific cooperation and development in the region.

Representatives from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Innovation and Technology Commission of Hong Kong, the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao, and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre attended the briefing. The briefing was chaired by Zhou Jiantao, interim director of the Research Services and Knowledge Transfer Office of UM.

During the briefing, representatives from various NSFC departments gave detailed presentations on the application and funding situation in Hong Kong and Macao. They also held in-depth discussions with more than 90 representatives from Hong Kong and Macao.

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/60256/

UM holds Macao Forum on Humanities and Social Sciences Education to discuss teaching materials and methods of Chinese language

The 5th Macao Forum on Humanities and Social Sciences Education was held at the University of Macau (UM) on 14 December 2024. The event brought together educators from across Macao to discuss ‘Teaching Materials and Methods of Chinese Language in Macao’, with the aim of promoting the quality of teaching materials and innovation of teaching methods of basic Chinese language education in Macao.

In his speech, Zhang Jian, associate dean of the UM Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH), said that language, as the core carrier of a nation’s culture, plays an irreplaceable role in cultivating the cultural and national identity among Macao students. He highlighted the remarkable achievements in Chinese language education in Macao, with the compilation of teaching materials becoming more systematic and diverse, and the incorporation of local characteristics and contemporary elements into teaching materials. Teaching methods have also shifted from traditional lectures to diverse approaches such as contextual, exploratory, and collaborative learning, which have stimulated students’ enthusiasm for learning. He expressed hope that the forum would gather wisdom from all sides in the face of new challenges and opportunities, and pave new paths for basic Chinese language education.

The forum was attended by representatives from academia, departments of education, and schools. Among them, Lei Kun Teng, emeritus professor at UM FAH, gave a keynote speech titled ‘Implementing the New Curriculum Standards and Utilising the New Teaching Materials Effectively’. He mentioned that the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and Guangdong Education Publishing House jointly introduced new teaching materials for Chinese language education in Macao’s primary and secondary schools in 2021, and the Ministry of Education issued new curriculum standards in 2022, adding that the integration and implementation of these efforts have become the focus of education reform. Lei also discussed the distinctive feature of the Chinese language curriculum—the unification of its instrumental and humanistic qualities—and delved into the origins of the ‘humanities’. He suggested that teachers should draw the essence of the humanistic spirit from the traditional cultural concepts of ‘astronomy’ and ‘humanities,’ which emphasise comprehensive care for individuals, and thus integrate it into the Chinese language curriculum, so as to lay a solid foundation for the holistic development of students. He added that ‘core literacy’, which encompasses four dimensions including cultural confidence, language proficiency, thinking skills and aesthetic creativity, is central to the educational goals of the Chinese language curriculum.

In discussing the highlights of the new teaching materials, Lei pointed out two key transformations. The first is the transition from single-article teaching to unit-based teaching, which connects core concepts while balancing the characteristics and relevance of each article, thereby deepening knowledge integration and improving students’ reading and writing skills. The second is the transition from lecture-based teaching to reading-based teaching, which emphasises that reading ability is the foundation of self-learning and is crucial for comprehensive subject learning and the enhancement of overall literacy. In response to the upgraded reading requirements of the new teaching materials, Lei suggested that teachers should focus on awakening students’ subject consciousness, and help them break free from passive reading and interact actively with texts. Teachers should fully respect students’ reading autonomy, and adjust their teaching plan according to individual needs. They should also assume multiple roles, such as decorating the classroom as an organiser, guiding and motivating students as a facilitator, and engaging in the reading process as a participant, thus incorporating elements that stimulate new ideas and avoid the pitfalls of rote learning. Meanwhile, teachers should cultivate students’ reading ability from a multidimensional approach, balance the acquisition of knowledge and skills, and adopt a practice-oriented approach in the process of enhancing students’ language proficiency.

The discussion session was moderated by Sio Chio Ieong, assistant professor in UM FAH. Leaders, heads of Chinese language panel, and Chinese teachers from local schools such as the Affiliated School of the University of Macau, Pui Ching Middle School, Hou Kong Middle School, and Lou Hau High School shared their insights on the use of teaching materials, teaching methods, challenges, and experiences of innovative teaching. Lei spoke highly of the discussions.

In his concluding remarks, Sio highlighted three key points for raising the standard of basic Chinese language education in Macao: First, the government should be the main coordinator, leading key teachers to participate in research on teaching materials and teaching methods, and conducting systematic teacher training. Second, schools should take responsibility for designing the curriculum and coordinating teaching progress across different grades and units. Third, teachers should strive to continuously improve their Chinese language literacy. Fan Lianghuo, dean of the UM Faculty of Education, also highly praised the discussion outcomes and encouraged the participants to apply what they had learned from the forum in their schools, and integrate them into their daily teaching, so as to continuously inject vitality into Macao’s Chinese language education and propel the humanities and social sciences education in Macao to new heights.

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/60248/

Digital art by UM faculty and student wins gold award at Glow Shenzhen

The digital ink generative video art installation ‘Icy Fire’, created by Lampo Leong, director of the Centre for Arts and Design of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Macau (UM), and doctoral student Yanxiu Zhao, has won a gold award at ‘Glow Shenzhen 2024’, a light art festival held in Shenzhen. This year’s festival featured a total of 209 light artworks from various countries and regions around the city.

‘Icy Fire’ is a digital ink generative video art installation measuring 7.5 metres by 4 metres by 4.8 metres. It consists of a high definition LED panel and multiple mirrored walls, ceiling and floor. The piece uses digital ink generative video art and AI techniques to depict the melting of glaciers through the splashing of ink and the artistic language of geometric abstraction, with a colour gradient shifting from cold to warm. The installation combines sound, light, and immersive settings to allow audiences to experience and appreciate the innovation and development of Chinese ink art in the digital and AI era.

This year’s ‘Glow Shenzhen’, with the theme of ‘Infinite Illumination’, adopts a ‘1+N’ model, with one main venue (UpperHills and nearby parks in Shenzhen’s Futian district) and 29 other locations. ‘Icy Fire’ is currently on display at the main venue in Shum Yip Upperhills, opposite the south gate of Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen, until 16 February 2025. The immersive installation has attracted many visitors and has been praised for its stunning artistic effect.

Lampo Leong is also a Distinguished Professor and doctoral supervisor at UM, and the associate master of UM Chao Kuang Piu College. He is also a professor emeritus at the University of Missouri-Columbia in the United States, and a visiting professor at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. His works have been selected for over 450 national and international juried or curated art and design exhibitions and have won more than 110 awards, including the Red Dot Award: Best of the Best, a gold award at American Good Design, a gold award at the Creative Quarterly International Art Competition in New York, and the China National Arts Fund. His works are housed in over ten art museum collections, including the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Macao Museum of Art, and have also been featured on the covers of publications such as New Art International in New York, Creative Genius: 100 Contemporary Artists in London, and Art Frontier in the United States.

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/60247/

UM Students’ Union inaugurates new leadership

The University of Macau (UM) Students’ Union held an inauguration ceremony for the 27th leadership of the students’ union and its affiliated organisations at the UM University Hall on 17 January. The ceremony was attended by university officers, guests, representatives of local associations and student unions of other higher education institutions.

During the ceremony, the new leadership of the UM Students’ Union took their oaths in the presence of Yonghua Song, rector of UM, and Chan Iok Wai, head of the Department of Students of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government. In his speech, Rector Song thanked the previous leadership for their services and contributions. He expressed hope that the new leadership and the affiliated organisations will provide more opportunities for students to broaden their horizons and leverage their talents to make more contributions to both Macao society and the country. Ho Pui I, president of the General Assembly of the UM Students’ Union, said that she will strengthen the supervision of various functions to ensure that all members effectively fulfil their responsibilities, thereby safeguarding the rights and interests of the students.

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/60217/

UM develops new AI model for virtual screening to enhance mRNA lipid nanoparticle delivery systems

The research team led by Ouyang Defang, associate professor in the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Macau (UM), has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model for virtual screening of mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems. This breakthrough is set to increase the efficiency of AI-driven mRNA drug development. The research, titled ‘Artificial intelligence-driven rational design of ionisable lipids for mRNA delivery’, has been published in the international journal Nature Communications, and an international patent has been filed.

LNPs have proven effective for mRNA delivery, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 vaccines. However, their key component, ionisable lipids, has traditionally been optimised through inefficient and costly experimental screening. Therefore, the research team developed an AI model and used virtual screening to facilitate the rational design of ionisable lipids by predicting two key properties of LNPs, apparent pKa and mRNA delivery efficiency. Nearly 20 million ionisable lipids were evaluated through two iterations of AI-driven generation and screening, yielding three and six new molecules, respectively. In mouse test validation, one lipid from the initial iteration, featuring a benzene ring, showed comparable performance to the control DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3). Notably, all six lipids from the second iteration equalled or outperformed MC3, with one exhibiting efficacy similar to a superior control lipid SM-102. Furthermore, the AI model is interpretable in terms of structure-activity relationships. This study demonstrates the immense potential of AI technology in the development of mRNA drug products, which can improve the efficiency of drug development.

The study was conducted in collaboration between UM and Fudan University. Ouyang Defang is the co-first corresponding author of the study, with UM postdoctoral fellow Wang Wei and PhD student Wu Yiyang as co-first authors. The research was supported by UM (File No: MYRGCRG2022-00008-ICMS, ICMS/RTO/EP160/2023), Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao SAR (File No: 0071/2024/RIA1, 005/2023/SKL), Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (File No: SGDX20210823103802016), Zhuhai Science and Technology Innovation Bureau (File No: ZH22017002210010PWC), National Natural Science Foundation of China (File No: 32301174). The research was also supported by the Shanghai Zhangjiang mRNA Innovation and Translation Center, Fudan Center for mRNA Translational Research, and Shanghai RNACure. The full text of the study is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55072-6.

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/60209/

UM honorary doctor Lawrence Juen-yee Lau gives talk on China in the global economy

The University of Macau (UM) held a Doctor honoris causa Lecture titled ‘China in the Global Economy’ today (16 January). Lawrence Juen-yee Lau, recipient of the Doctor of Education honoris causa degree from UM and former vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), was the speaker. The talk was well attended by scholars, UM faculty and students, people from various sectors of the community, and the public.

In his speech, Huen Wing Ming, second vice chair of the University Council, highlighted Prof Lau’s academic achievements, as well as his contributions to economic development, economic growth, and the East Asian economies. He also mentioned Prof Lau’s achievements during his tenure as vice-chancellor of CUHK, such as the internationalisation of the university and the establishment of CUHK-Shenzhen. Notably, Prof Lau took part in the establishment of the Dr Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation in 2005.

During the talk, Prof Lau reviewed the history of the Chinese economy and its development since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and illustrated China’s evolving role in various sectors of the global economy. He discussed China’s progress in intangible assets (human capital and R&D capital) and the increased international use of the renminbi. He also provided a long-term outlook for China’s economy up to 2050. In addition, Prof Lau engaged with the audience in the Q&A and discussion session moderated by Yu Jun, dean of the UM Faculty of Business Administration.

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/60201/

UM scholar gives talk on myths and practices of miniaturised energy harvesting techniques

The University of Macau (UM) held the 23rd UM Scholar Research Forum today (15 January), with Law Man Kay, professor in the UM Institute of Microelectronics and laboratory infrastructure coordinator of the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, as the speaker. Prof Law gave a talk titled ‘Myths and Practices of Miniaturized Energy Harvesting Techniques’ and shared his research findings. The talk attracted a full house.

During the talk, Prof Law shared his research on energy harvesting circuits and systems. He explained how various forms of ambient energy, such as light and vibration, can be converted into usable electrical energy to power electronic devices or sensors. He also highlighted the challenges and opportunities in implementing power systems in miniaturised electronic devices.

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/60194/