UM holds the UAUC joint meeting
The University of Macau (UM) yesterday (19June) held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2018/2019 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall. Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. Chui said that UM has taken various measures to support China’s ‘Go Global’ and ‘Bring In’ growth strategy, which has also given a fresh impetus to Macao’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
Chui is very pleased to see UM’s active involvement in the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), as reflected in its partnering up with universities and companies in the GBA in personnel training and in the construction of bases on Hengqin island for collaborations between industry, universities, and research institutes; in its efforts to commercialise its research results in mainland China; and in its joining university alliances. The university has been steadily promoting the development of technology and innovation in response to the national development strategy. UM has been expanding its global network and has partnered up with many famous universities and other academic institutes both in China and abroad, to launch joint degree programmes, establish joint key labs, and creat national research platforms. In terms of personnel training, UM last year launched the UM Macao Talent Programme in order to recruit high-calibre professionals from around the world. These measures help to substantially implement the ‘Go Global’ and ‘Bring In’ strategy. They will not only increase UM’s teaching quality and international competitiveness, but will also help to diversify and internationalise Macao’s higher education system, and inject a new impetus to Macao’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
UC Chair Lam Kam Seng summarised the UC’s work in the 2018/2019 academic year. In the past year, the UC devoted a lot of effort in promoting the university’s teaching and research, in creating an open and effective platform for R&D activities and technology transfer, and in fostering closer links between the university and local businesses to facilitate the commercialisation of UM’s research results. The UC also provided strong support to the university in curriculum reform and in the nurturing of creative graduates in order to provide a fresh impetus to the development of the GBA. Lam concluded his speech by pointing out that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland; thanks to the advantages conferred by the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy and the unreserved support of the central and Macao SAR governments, UM has been able to progress in leaps and bounds in recent years.
Rector Yonghua Song reported UM’s current progress in personnel training, teaching, scientific research, and other areas. According to Song, UM will spare no effort to support China’s development strategy for the GBA and the relevant plans released recently by the Macao SAR government. UM will actively explore opportunities to collaborate with world-class universities in the GBA in launching joint programmes; it will also take the initiative to promote the collaboration between centres for technology and innovation and personnel training centres in the west of the GBA, and accelerate the construction of institutes on Hengqin that demonstrate a new model of industry-academia collaboration.
The UA and the UC consist of prominent members of the community, UM’s management, as well as representatives of faculty members, students, and alumni. The following individuals attended this year’s UAUC Joint Meeting: Chui Sai On, Lam Kam Seng, Wong Chong Fat, Lau Veng Lin, Lee Bun-Sang, Siu Yin Wai, Maria Edith da Silva, Susana Chou, Joaquim Jorge Perestrelo Neto Valente, Wong King Keung, Lao Ngai Leong, Fok Chun-Wan, Kong Tat Choi, Tse Chi Wai, Anabela Fátima Xavier Sales Ritchie, Tong Chi Kin, Ma Chi Ngai, Kou Kam Fai, Chui Sai Peng, Leong Heng Teng, Vong Hin Fai, Huen Wing Ming, Ip Peng Kin, Sou Chio Fai, Lou Pak Sang, Iong Kong Leong, Yonghua Song, Rui Martins, Ge Wei, Billy So, Kou Mei, Chen Jinghan, Liu Ting-Chi, Wong Pak Kin, Ao Peng Kong, Kot Man Kam, Ma Man Cheng, Shih Liang Yan, and Leung Kai Chun (secretary of the UA and secretary-general of the UC). Those who sat in on the meeting included Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Tam Chon Weng, and Chief of the Office of the Chief Executive O Lam.
