UM inaugurates its Cultural Building
The University of Macau (UM) today (19 June) held an inauguration ceremony for the Cultural Building. UM Rector Yonghua Song said at the ceremony that in a new era where the Chinese government has initiated the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Cultural Building at UM is tasked with the mission to promote Chinese culture and cultural exchange and to support Macao’s effort to develop into a centre for cultural exchange between China and foreign countries in the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
Officiating guests at the ceremony included Dr Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR and chancellor of UM; Mr Fu Ziying, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Dr Tam Chon Weng, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR; Mr Xue Xiaofeng, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Dr Lam Kam Seng, chair of the University Council of UM; and Prof Yonghua Song, rector of UM.
In his speech, Rector Song said that in this new era where the Chinese government has initiated the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Macao is tasked with a special mission, which is to become a base for cultural exchange and collaboration, with Chinese culture being the predominant component, complemented by a variety of other cultures that co-exist in harmony. As the only public comprehensive university in Macao that places equal emphasis on teaching and research, UM will spare no effort to integrate its resources on campus and make use of its unique advantages in order to help Macao fulfill this mission and make a greater contribution to Macao and China.
The Cultural Building houses the current Centre for Chinese History and Culture, Centre for Macau Studies, Confucius Institute, Chinese-Portuguese Bilingual Teaching and Training Centre, Centre for Arts and Design, and Macao Base for Primary & Secondary Education in Humanities & Social Sciences, all of which are strong cultural or teaching units at UM. Together, they provide strong support to Macao’s effort to develop into a centre for cultural exchange between China and foreign countries in the Greater Bay Area and even in the world.
The First University of Macau Forum on Literature and History and an exhibition of artworks by UM faculty and students were also held on the same day to showcase the university’s achievements in the humanities and social sciences.
