The IAS is one of the research platforms in humanities and social sciences at UM
To support the development of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the University of Macau (UM) has formulated a strategic research blueprint for the integration of science, technology, humanities and social sciences. While continuing to develop disciplines with a competitive edge, UM will also give priority to some emerging disciplines, with increased support for interdisciplinary subjects that cover humanities, social sciences, and science and technology, in order to meet the current trends in society. UM’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (IAS) aims to create a university-level, cross-faculty research platform. In the initial stage, the institute will develop three signature research clusters, namely Chinese civilisation in multicultural mèlange, convergence of humanities and sciences, and Macao from a global perspective. The institute recently launched a Fellowship Scheme to attract world-class talent in related fields.
UM attaches great importance to academic research and technological innovation, bringing together many outstanding scholars in science, technology, humanities and social sciences. A ‘3+3+3+3’ strategic layout (the four 3’s refer to three state key laboratories, three key research directions, three interdisciplinary research fields, and three research platforms for humanities and social sciences) has been established. In terms of strategic blueprint for research in humanities and social sciences, UM has three platforms, namely the Centre for Macau Studies, the Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management, and the newly established IAS.
The IAS is an academic unit at UM that coordinates the resources in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Law. It recruits world-class talent in the related fields to carry out research projects under signature research clusters so as to serve as a university-level, cross-faculty research platform to help UM develop world-class interdisciplinary research teams, and plans to form a strategic structure that facilitates the sharing of academic resources for synergy. As one of the research platforms in humanities and social sciences at UM, the institute plans to develop signature research clusters in three key areas, namely Chinese civilisation in multicultural mèlange, convergence of humanities and sciences, and Macao from a global perspective. The research teams will be designed with a top-down approach, with accomplished UM scholars serving as the team leaders. The teams will carry out interdisciplinary and collaborative research in order to achieve far-reaching breakthroughs.
There are currently five faculties at UM in humanities and social sciences. Together, these faculties offer programmes in linguistics, history, literature, religious studies, philosophy, law, economics, management, business, education, communication, sociology, psychology, and political science. In some areas, these faculties have achieved impressive outputs. They include Chinese history and culture, the history of Macao, Portuguese language education, the Constitution and the Basic Law, tourism and gaming management, education development in Macao, economic models, criminology, psychology, and media research. The institute is dedicated to promoting university-wide research in humanities and social sciences, nurturing outstanding young scholars, and encouraging collaboration between humanities and science. It also strives to become a comprehensive local think tank to carry out theoretical studies and empirical research in order to support the sustainable development of Macao and the city’s integration into the Greater Bay Area.
The institute recently launched a Fellowship Scheme in order to encourage top scholars in humanities and social sciences at home and abroad to conduct cutting-edge research at UM as IAS fellows and to promote research and exchange in humanities and social sciences in Macao. The scheme is divided into two categories, for regular staff and applicants who are not regular staff, respectively. It is now open for applications. Both UM scholars and scholars not affiliated with UM are eligible to apply. For details, please visit the IAS’s website at https://ias.um.edu.mo. For enquiries, please email to ias.programme@um.edu.mo.
The scheme provides those outstanding UM scholars who are nearing the completion of their research projects with funding to help them complete their academic work. The other category is designed for senior or leading scholars from outside the university. It also aims to nurture excellent young scholars by providing them with the opportunity to study with senior scholars and UM scholars at the newly established IAS at UM. Visiting scholars will receive different amounts of funding from UM based on the specifics of the visiting programme and the background of the scholar. The institute will also organise a series of academic events, including academic lectures, community forums, and cross-disciplinary dialogue luncheons.
