Class of 2015 graduates
The University of Macau (UM) held the Congregation 2015 in its Sports Complex today (30 May) to present certificates to more than 1,000 graduating students. Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR and chancellor of UM, noted at the ceremony that UM’s increasing international influence plays a positive role in promoting Macao’s image internationally, and he believes that UM will continue to occupy an important position on the higher education scene in Macao and make significant contributions to improving the overall quality of higher education in Macao. Chui Sai On officiated at the ceremony in the company of Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Tam Chon Weng, UM’s University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng, UM Rector Wei Zhao, and Vice Rectors Lionel Ni, Rui Martins, Haydn Chen, and Alex Lai. More than 4,000 people attended the ceremony, including members of UM’s University Assembly, University Council, and Senate; government officials; prominent members of the community; students’ parents; and UM faculty and staff. This year UM set up ramps by the stage to facilitate graduates with disabilities. ‘The University of Macau has made significant headway in every major aspect in recent years,’ said Chui Sai On at the ceremony. ‘The new campus is now up and running, the educational and curriculum reforms are being carried out that witnessed the implementation of the “4-in-1” education model, and a raft of academic and administrative optimising measures have been put in place. Raising its academic status and influence aside, these reforms will enable the university to achieve sustainable development and increase its capabilities to nurture talent. As the university is going from strength to strength, it has taken another big step closer to realising its aspiration to become a world class university. It has also, under this very same manoeuvre, done a very good job in promoting the international image of Macao.’ Chui Sai On added that UM has become an important talent training base in Macao and he believes that UM will continue to occupy an important position on the higher education scene in Macao and make significant contributions to improving the overall quality of higher education in Macao, adding that the SAR government will continue to support UM to help it scale new heights. Rector Wei Zhao congratulated the graduates. He said, ‘Six years ago, the land we are now standing on was a farmland separated from Macao. Today, thanks to the full support of the central and the Macao governments, the land has turned into the campus that inspires and awes everybody and that is seamlessly connected to Macao. What had seemed a mission impossible has become the mission accomplished! And you are those students who have had the opportunity to spend your time across the two campuses and thus were able to witness the historic moment of the transition.’ Rector Zhao said that the university hopes to improve its soft power to keep pace with the first-class facilities, and will push forward reforms in various areas to support the university’s long-term development. He expressed hope that UM will become a more cost-effective university with greater accomplishments. Ao Peng Kong, representative from UM’s Alumni Association, expressed hope that the graduates will follow the university’s motto – Humanity, Integrity, Propriety, Wisdom and Sincerity, and give back to society, take care of their families, and chase their dreams. He added that Macao’s prosperous economy presents an excellent opportunity for the graduates. He advised the graduates to take advantage of the opportunities arising from Macao’s role as an important international trade and tourism centre and a platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, as they begin a new chapter in their lives. Lee Un Man, representative of this year’s graduates and one of the first cohort of graduates from UM’s Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, thanked all the teachers for their guidance, staff for their dedicated service, and families for their unwavering support. She said she felt lucky that she chose to stay in Macao instead of going abroad for further studies, because otherwise she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to study at UM. ‘Our university is trying hard to innovate and take its place among the best. We as its students and graduates must do the same, and never stop learning,’ she said. This year UM graduated more than 1,400 bachelor’s degree graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Social Sciences. Its Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences graduated the first cohort of students. 40 outstanding graduates from different faculties have also completed their programmes at the Honours College.
