UM’s Congregation 2019
The University of Macau (UM) held the Congregation 2019 today (26 May). Macao SAR Chief Executive and UM Chancellor Chui Sai On praised the university for nurturing innovative graduates with global vision and producing fruitful research results to support the economic diversification and sustainable development of Macao through an outstanding faculty team.
Chui officiated at the ceremony in the company of members of the university’s top management team, including University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng, UM Rector Yonghua Song, and Vice Rectors Rui Martins, Billy So and Kou Mei. Nearly 4,000 people attended the ceremony, including members of the University Assembly, University Council and Senate; government officials; prominent community members; parents of the graduates; and UM faculty and staff.
In his speech, Chui said: ‘Against the backdrop of the rapid development in Macao over the past year, the university has also been forging its way forward. It has undertaken the initiatives to establish the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City, assist in building the base for training Chinese-Portuguese bilingual talent, and foster cooperation in the Greater Bay Area on the education of innovative technology. Students are encouraged to relate their own personal development to the national advancement, and to love and contribute to Macao and the nation. The university also dedicates itself to supporting the government’s policies of education and talent nurturing. A corps of high-calibre teachers is in place to train innovative and top-notch talent with global vision. By strengthening the talent pool and innovation power on a continuous basis, the university can produce more scientific and technological output for a sustainable and moderately diversified local economy.’
In his speech, Rector Song congratulated the graduates for successfully completing their studies at UM and stressed the importance of vision. He said, ‘Our university has been striving to create a positive, open, inclusive and diversified environment, as well as an internationalised campus culture for students. To this end, the university provides students with more learning and exchange opportunities both at home and aboard; widens their horizons and exposure; and encourages them to learn and think with a macroscopic and open mind. Students of the University of Macau can now go on exchange and study at more than 150 renowned higher education institutions around the world. These opportunities not only help students improve their language proficiency in a native environment and strengthen their disciplinary knowledge, but also enable them to gain experience through living in a different cultural environment.’ He added: ‘You should care about the destiny of your nation, and weave your dreams into the development of your country. I hope that you can seize the opportunities presented to you.’
In her speech, Lei I Teng, representative of this year’s graduates, reminisced about her four years at UM—her memory of burning the midnight oil in the residential college and the Learning Commons with her roommate, and her gratitude to the university for the opportunity for overseas exchange and how that experience helped her become more independent, let her experience a new culture, and improved her language skills. She said she would never forget the valuable opportunities provided by the university. She thanked the professors for their patience and guidance, and for showing the students that education is defined by passion. She also thanked her parents and her fellow students for their support over the years. She said, ‘We are the stars because we are greater than what we thought. We can have infinite possibilities, and we can make a big impact to society. We are the stars because we can never imagine how much positivity we can bring to others, to the people in need and to the community.’
This year, more than 1,500 students of bachelor’s degree programmes, from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Social Sciences, received their graduation certificates. Among these students, 42 have completed programmes offered by the Honours College.
