The Opening Ceremony and Gala Dinner for the Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management (APAEM), University of Macau (UM), was held on 17 April, signalling the official start of operation of APAEM. With a strong teaching and advisory team comprised of well-known scholars and business leaders, including three Nobel Prize laureates, APAEM is committed to nurturing more internationally competitive and socially responsible future leaders for Macao and the Asia-Pacific region. Dr. Tse Chi Wai, chair of the University Council of UM; Prof. Wei Zhao, rector of UM; Prof. Jacky So, dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and director of APAEM; and Prof. William H. Mobley, co-director of APAEM, jointly officiated at the plaque-unveiling ceremony. Rector Wei Zhao said in his speech that he hopes APAEM can become a leading think tank and talent incubator in the region, adding that he believes with the trust and support of the community, UM has confidence to succeed in this role. At the ceremony Prof. Jacky So introduced the mission and vision of APAEM. He noted that APAEM aspires to become a world-class research, executive development and advisory hub to develop regional policies and nurture more internationally competitive and socially responsible future leaders for the Asia-Pacific region, through the organisation of the executive education programme, international conferences and distinguished forums, case studies, research, and publication of papers. APAEM boasts a strong teaching and advisory team comprised of well-known scholars and business leaders. It has invited distinguished academic and business figures to give lectures, including Prof. Robert Kegan from Harvard University, who is considered a master on leadership, and Anthony Bolton, president-investments at Fidelity Worldwide Investment. APAEM has three Nobel Prize laureates—Prof. Robert A. Mundell, Prof. James A. Mirrlees, and Prof. Lawrence R. Klein—serving on its Honorary Advisory Board. APAEM has supported Cornell University in the United States, and the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gambling, which is under the Faculty of Business Administration of UM, in their co-organisation of a large academic conference. Currently it's collaborating with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Macau and the Ocean Park Hong Kong on case studies. In the future, APAEM plans to collaborate with more well-known universities in Europe and the United States to explore more teaching, research and publication opportunities.
