The University of Macau (UM) welcomed back approximately 6,000 undergraduate students today (16 September), the first day of the new semester. Among the 6,000 students, more than 1,500 are first-year undergraduates. Regarding the class schedules, UM notes that for this semester, most of the courses will still be conducted on the current campus, because the various buildings on the new campus are undergoing quality inspection. UM hopes that when all UM students and staff move to the new campus, students will be able to experience firsthand the benefits of the university's unique "4-in-1" mode of education. This year UM received a record number of over 9,000 applications for undergraduate studies, up 21 per cent from last year. Of the 1,520 admitted students, undergraduates account for 80 per cent. To attract more outstanding local students, UM this year continues to provide scholarships to those recommended by their middle school principals. This year a total of 247 students received scholarships in this category. On the curriculum front, UM this year launched two new degree programmes, namely the Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedicine) Programme (Molecular Biology and Biomedicine), and the Bachelor of Science in Accounting Programme. Adjustments have been made to four degree programmes, namely the Bachelor of Science in Accounting Programme (Accounting and Information Systems), the Bachelor of Business Administration Programme (Global Business Management), the Bachelor of Law (Day-time) Programme, and the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Programme. Also, the original Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities has become two separate faculties: Faculty of Social Sciences, and Faculty of Arts and Humanities. UM is now providing full cooperation to the Macao SAR government and the contractor in carrying out the quality inspection and handover of the various buildings and facilities on the new campus, so that it can start full-scale operation on the new campus next spring. UM hopes that students can cherish their days on the current campus and, after moving to the new campus, experience firsthand the benefits of the unique "4-in-1" mode of education, which consists of discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, as well as community and peer education. Prof. Haydn Chen, vice rector for student affairs, made a special trip to the new campus this morning to check how students were doing on the first day of the new semester. In a thoughtful gesture to help cool the summer heat, UM prepared some ice cream, attracting over 100 students. Kary Lei, a new student from the Department of Communication, says, "The beautiful campus, the international faculty, and the all-English teaching environment are what drew me to UM in the first place." She is very excited about starting a new chapter in her life, saying that she will make the most of the four years and take active part in the various extracurricular activities organised by her residential college. Another new student named Toby Wong from the Faculty of Science and Technology highly praises UM for its various services aimed at helping students to adapt to the university life. He says he is particularly interested in the English writing consultation service and hopes to gain practical knowledge from it. He also plans to participate in UM's international exchange programme to broaden his horizons.
