The new students are excited about the four college years ahead of them
The University of Macau (UM) today (20 August) held the convocation for the 2015/2016 academic year for nearly 2,000 new undergraduates and postgraduates in the UM Sports Complex. Rector Wei Zhao expressed his expectations for the students, stressing the importance of honesty and living a moral life. Rector Zhao said at the convocation that going to college is one of the most exciting things in one’s life. He is excited that UM will become a new home for the students. He noted that a university is a place to acquire new knowledge and develop new skills, but more importantly, it is also a place to enrich one’s moral life. He also encouraged the students to have a heart of love, be honest, observe the Three Principles (Love China, Love Macau, and Love the University of Macau) and Five Canoes (Humanity, Integrity, Propriety, Wisdom, and Sincerity, which are inscribed in the University Motto), and cherish the college years. Jones Chong, a distinguished alumnus of UM, was invited to the convocation to share his experiences as a student at UM. Chong said that had it not been for the four years at UM, which allowed him to follow his interests and passion, he probably would not have started a business in the first place, and the thriving music scene in Macao probably would not have been possible either. A believer in the saying that, ‘Good results are often the product of the right environment’, he said at the convocation: ‘UM prepares students for future challenges by providing a learning environment that encourages freedom of thought, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit, which goes a long way towards helping students discover their passion and dream.’ Conor C, a new student of the Faculty of Science and Technology, is excited about the four college years ahead of him. ‘I’m so happy that I could study at UM, and I think the beautiful campus will offer endless possibilities,’ he said. Conor’s excitement was echoed by Salome Lam, a new student from the Faculty of Law. ‘I look forward to starting my classes,’ she said. ‘I’m sure I’m going to make lots of new friends and have a great time living in the residential college.’ Classes for the new academic year will begin on 24 August. To help students adapt to a new chapter in their lives, UM has organising a series of activities over the past week, including two information seminars organised by the university, moving-in and welcoming events organised by the residential colleges, welcoming events and information seminars organised by the various faculties, student activities fair, and guided campus tours. An information seminar for parents was also held to help parents know more about the university’s education philosophy and latest developments so that they can better help their children adapt to college life.
