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Hosted by the Macao SAR Government, co-ordinated by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), the 2017 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2017MIECF) will be held at the Macao Venetian-Resort-Hotel from 30th March to 1st April 2017. 2017MIECF has adopted the theme “Innovative Green Development for Sustainable Future”, to promote the concept of “Thinking Green, Going Clean, Living Cool”. MIECF´s Green Showcase will cover several areas of environmental protection, namely Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Green Building, Green Mobility, Waste and Water Management Solutions, Environmental Services, Air Quality and other environmental products and services. As in the past years, apart from welcoming the participation of environmental enterprises from various green industries, MIECF will again highlight the well-received “Green Building Pavilion” to provide a more professional and specialised green building technology and products showcase to foster the development of Green Building in the region. Furthermore, “Green Mobility” will be a key highlight of the upcoming MIECF to allow different sectors of society to learn about the latest developments in sustainable mobility solutions and technology. Being the region’s annual green economy platform, Macao enterprises in the environmental sector are welcome to present advanced environmental technologies and solutions during the Green Showcase, and to reach out to international markets including Portuguese-speaking Countries and beyond. To encourage local enterprises’ participation, 2017MIECF again will be offering the “Financial Incentive Scheme for Macao SMEs” with the aim of providing qualified SMEs with up to 60% subsidy for exhibition fees. Through the Incentive Scheme the organiser would like to attract more local SMEs to exhibit during the event, to further stimulate the exchange and co-operation in the environmental industry between Macao, the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region and the international market, and to establish business opportunities through this green platform. Interested local Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises must fulfil the following requirements: at least 50% of the company shareholders are Macao residents or wholly-owned Macao enterprises; should be registered with the Macao Finance Services Bureau (DSF) for at least two years and have fulfilled tax obligations. Qualified SMEs can enjoy up to 60% exhibition subsidy on exhibition fees, i.e., standard booth of 9 square metres: MOP4,880 (regular fee: MOP12,200); raw space of 9 square metres: MOP3,600 (regular fee: MOP9,000) (only for first 9 square metres of exhibition, and raw space exhibitor must take up at least 18 square metres). Due to limited quota available, applications will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis and the organiser reserves the right of final decision on application approval. The deadline for application is 30th December 2016 (Friday). Applicant can download the application form from MIECF official website (www.macaomiecf.com), or by collecting in person from IPIM - Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (918, Avenida da Amizade, World Trade Centre, 4th Floor, tel.: 2871 0300) or at IPIM’s Macao Business Support Centre (MBSC) 263, (Alameda Dr. Carlos D´Assumpção, China Civil Plaza Building, 19th Floor, tel.: 2872 8212) during office hours. Applications with supporting documents must be submitted to these offices on or before the deadline. For enquiries, please contact us by e-mail at miecf@ipim.gov.mo or enquiry hotline at 8798 9675.
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A hairdresser salon turned into a musical? A recreation of an entertainment house at Beco da Felicidade? A funeral at the Ruins of St. Paul’s in the middle of the night? The Macao City Fringe Festival’s shows are always eagerly awaited by all and bring new colours to daily life. The 16th Macao City Fringe Festival, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), takes as slogan “A Feast of Creativity, Bon Appétit” and will be held from 13 to 22 January 2017, offering 23 wonderful programmes and a total of 70 performances, going from theatre halls to narrow streets and from forbidden rooms to the outdoors. Adopting the concept “All around the city, our stages, our patrons, our artists”, the Festival offers an arts banquet to the entire city. Throughout ten consecutive days, “Mobile Kitchen” invites special guests from the cultural field to take the roles of chefs and share their superb cuisine, whether refined or homely, and take the public to savour the flavour of life. In “Antiwords”, produced by Czech Republic Spitfire Company, two actresses drink beer after beer, bragging and arguing with only a few words, offering an explosive mix of nonsensical humour and imagination. “In Good Hands”, by Irish Catherine Ireton, is a live musical set in a hairdressing salon, offering the audience a wonderful 60-minute experience. “The Magnificent 4” uses the human body as instrument and shares a choreography that makes use of the legs and hand-clapping, creating a unique tempo. In “5 Women”, by contemporary dance company KheN, Dutch choreographer Kevin Pollak joins hands with five dancers in a birthday party set in a café where, through an intense body language, secrets that cannot be shared emerge. “The Smooth Life” is a puppet show set to Arabian music that tells the true story of the life of director Husam Abed in a Palestinian refugee camp. This edition of the Festival does not forget collaborations with foreign artists. “Funeral for the Living”, directed by Daisuke Sagawa and performed by Japanese company Theatre Moments, awarded with the Macao Literary Prize for Best Script, debates without restrictions issues of life and death. Hong Kong stand-up comedy champion, Vivek Mahbubani, comes to Macao with his friend Chan Lok Tim to cooperate and compete on stage with Macao artists in “Seven Up”, and will certainly make the audience roar with laughter. “The Other Side of the Sacred” is produced by renowned Macao choreographer Candy Kuok in cooperation with Greek Nina Dipla, and will take the audience on a journey that mixes dance, poetry and music. Additionally, in “Weaving Landscape: Night Tide”, the Associação de Arte e Cultura - Comuna de Pedra uses different materials as a medium of creativity, making use of body language and installation art to explore the relationship between body, fabrics and all living things. This edition of the Festival also features the “Workshop on Environmental Dance Theatre”, the “Workshop for Specific Social Arts Workers” and the “Fringe Reviews”, encouraging the interaction between the audience, art professionals and critics and allowing them to experience the joy of the arts. In addition, in order to expand the space for development of local art professionals, this edition of the Fringe Festival invited directors of several major art organizations in Asia to come to the city and share their arts festivals and artists-in-residence programmes, thereby introducing to art professional means of participation and offering related support, thus establishing a cooperation network. Tickets for the Fringe Festival will be on sale at the Macao Ticketing Network from 10am on 11 December (Sunday); telephone and online bookings will be available from 12pm on the same day. 24 hours ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; ticketing website: www.macauticket.com. Holders of ICBC cards including ICBC Credit Card, ICBC Debit Card and ICBC Prepaid Card can enjoy a 10% discount for ticket purchases over MOP200. Online registration for the workshops and “Fringe Reviews” is available at 9am on 11 December (Sunday) on a first-come first-served basis. Online registration website: www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event. For more details on the programme, please visit the Festival’s webpage at www.macaucityfringe.gov.mo. For more information, please call IC through telephone no. 8399 6699, during office hours. The 16th Macao City Fringe Festival Press Conference was held on 7 December (Wednesday), at 3pm, at the Macau Art Garden, with the presence of the Vice-President of IC, Leong Hio Ming, the Head of IC’s Department of Cultural Events, Ieong Chi Kin, the Head of IC’s Division of Performing Arts, Paula Lei, as well as with representatives of art organizations and art professionals.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in December on 7 December for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 14 supermarkets in Toi San, Ilha Verde and Fai Chi Kei areas in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM’s Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. With reference to the local seven parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The 2016 “Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System” (MORS) Gold Pin Competition Award Presentation Ceremony was held today at the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT). Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of Macao Government Tourist Office (MGTO), Mr. Chan Un Tong, Acting Director of Labour Affairs Bureau, Mr. Samuel Yeung, General Manager of Grand Lisboa Hotel, Mr. Chan Chak Mo, President of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao and Mr. Lei Pou Loi, President of Macao Hotelier Association present awards to the winners. This year, there are 10 sessions of competitions and 281 participants from 33 organisations altogether, including Assistant Cook (Western Kitchen), Bartender, Chinese Cook – Cantonese Cuisine (Intermediate level), Chinese Cook - Dim Sum (Intermediate Level), Concierge and Bell Attendant, Front Desk Agent/Customer Relations Officer, Security Officer for Tourism and Gaming Industry, Room Attendant, Waiter/Waitress (Chinese Restaurant Service) and Waiter/Waitress (Western Restaurant Service). The final round of the competitions was held on 28 and 30 November at IFT and Grand Lisboa Hotel respectively. The competition adapted a process of elimination, with 3 rounds of contests for each competition. The first 2 rounds of contests were held in forms of written examination and skill evaluation according to the fundamental knowledge covered in the MORS training manuals. Participants without MORS certificates needed to go through the first round. In order to be admitted to the second round, the contestants must reach a minimum score of 75%, and compete with those who possess the certificate. Contestants with excellent performances in the second round from each competition will be invited to join the final and given the certificates. Contestants aimed at the 2 winning positions in each competition. Juries formed by over 30 respectful executives from the industry observed closely and assessed the contestants for the final winners. Winners would receive a MORS Gold Pin, MOP8,000 cash award and a scholarship of MOP2,000 for THS training courses. Launched in 2001, MORS is a joint effort of the Tourism Industry of Macao and IFT with the main objective to upgrade human resources in the industry through the introduction of a certification scheme for a number of professions. At this moment, skills standards are introduced for the following occupations:  Assistant Cook (Western Kitchen)  Bartender  Chinese Cook – Cantonese Cuisine (Elementary)  Chinese Cook – Cantonese Cuisine (Intermediate)  Chinese Cook – Cantonese Dim Sum (Elementary)  Chinese Cook – Cantonese Dim Sum (Intermediate)  Concierge and Bell Attendant  Customer Relations Officer  Floral Designer  Front Desk Agent  Retail Sales Officer  Room Attendant  Security Officer for Tourism and Gaming Industry  Travel Consultant  Waiter / Waitress (Chinese Restaurant Service)  Waiter / Waitress (Western Restaurant Service)  Western Pastry and Bakery Chef To reward and demonstrate outstanding MORS recognised professionals, IFT has been organising the Gold Pin Competition since 2002. Gold Pin Competition final round contests examine contestants on their practical skills and details are as follows: Assistant Cook (Western Kitchen) Contestants are to be given a ‘black box’ of assorted ingredients and other general ingredients during the competition. Contestants will have 2 hours to produce a soup and a main course dish with the given ingredients. They have to present 2 identical dishes for each – one for judging and one for display. Each contestant may only bring maximum 3 ingredients (not garnishes) which must be shown to the jury prior to the start of competition. Contestants will be given 10 minutes upon receiving the “black box” to think about what dishes they will prepare. The theme this year will be “seafood”. A final recipe of the contestants chosen dish will also be required. The jury team will assess the contestants on creativity, technical skills, organisational skills, hygiene, degree of wastage, preparation, taste, dish presentation and consistency. Bartender Within a time frame, contestants had to set up a functional bar with the theme of a movie character or one of a well-known celebrity and to create a cocktail for 2 persons with the theme corresponding to the theme of their functional bar. The jury team assessed the contestants on technical skills including taste, presentation, cocktail name and colour of the cocktail, and creativity, technical skill, showmanship and speed of the contestants. Chinese Cook – Cantonese Cuisine (Intermediate level) Within 90 minutes, contestants brought in their own ingredients to prepare 2 dishes, one dish with designated vegetables and another dish selected from the menu of the Le Guide Michelin restaurant of Macao. Jury team assessed the contestants on technical skills, creativity, organisational skills, hygiene, taste, presentation and consistency. Chinese Cook – Dim Sum (Intermediate level) Contestants brought in their own ingredients to prepare 3 types of dim sum, include one type of dumping, one self-selected dim sum and one dim sum assigned by IFT. The time frame for preparation was 2 hours. Jury team assessed the contestants on technical skills, creativity, organisational skills, hygiene, taste, presentation and consistency. Concierge and Bell Attendant A total of 2 rounds of quizzes and a presentation are used to determine the potential highest scorers. For the presentation performance, we would like to hear how the contestants introduce the “Safety and security measures within the hotel while s/he is escort the guest up to the room”. Each contestant is given 3 minutes to talk about this topic in front of all the audiences. Judges will then base on various criteria, such as words being used, communication skill, presentation skill, in-depth of the topic, etc. to decide the best contestant. Front Desk Agent/Customer Relations Officer A total of 2 rounds of quizzes and a presentation are used to determine the potential highest scorers. For the presentation performance, contestants have to draw one of the below topics and introduce the topic drawn within 3 minutes of time. The topics are gaming/casino, entertainment, special events/activities, hotels, cultural heritage, food and beverage and shopping. Judges will then base on various criteria, such as words being used, communication skill, presentation skill, in-depth of the topic, etc. to decide the best contestant. Room Attendant Contestants were tested about the techniques of bed making competition in a single elimination tournament. In Round one competition, 8 contestants are to be randomly drawn into 4 groups. They are asked to make up a twin bed within 6 minutes. 4 champions in this round will proceed to round two. In round two, 4 contestants are to be randomly drawn again into 2 groups. They are asked to make up a king bed within 8 minutes. Judges will base on their skills and total efficiency to score the contestants. Defeated competitors are eliminated from the game and eventually the final 2 champions are the Gold Pin winners. Security Officer for Tourism and Gaming Industry There will be 3 rounds in the competition. The first round, contestants will compete with each other in the Q&A and Quiz Bee on Security Officer and Customer Service knowledge. The second and third rounds are task activity and assignment competition. Judges will base on skills, attitude, speed and procedure to score the contestants. Waiter / Waitress (Chinese Restaurant Service) Within 20 minutes of time, contestants have to complete two parts. In part one, the judges will pick up one famous Chinese cuisine based on 8 major world famous culinary cuisines in China and contestants have to answer the question particular on that cuisine. In part two, contestants should go through a food serving process. For the first part, judges will base on varies criteria such as product knowledge; communication skills; presentation skills and listening skill etc. to score this part. For the second part, judges will base on the correctness of using proper tools, workflow, techniques, hygiene, speed, quality of work. Waiter / Waitress (Western Restaurant Service) The final contest title is: Buffet Table Set-up. The competition will be divided into 2 parts. Part 1: Placing all the required standard utensils and equipment on the buffet table. Speed, hygiene and tidiness will be the key marking criterions of this part. Part 2: Placing all the theme items and decorative props/materials on the buffet table. Theme creativity, appearance and attractiveness will be the key marking criterions of this part. Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 101 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has now 8 bachelor degree programmes with the Certification. Currently, the Institute has the most number of bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). MORS Gold Pin Competition 2016 – Gold Pin Winners *Annex Table
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Thirty-seven teams enter the second stage of the consumer study award (Year 2016/2017) held by Consumer Council. A workshop was held earlier by the Council to provide suggestions and encourage students to complete their research reports through practices and experiences. Thirty-two teams from senior high schools and five teams from junior high schools are qualified for the second stage of the consumer study award, participating students are required to collect data, inspect, and make research to complete their reports. Workshops are held by Consumer Council and individual sessions are offered to students to assist them during the course of their work. Almost one hundred teachers and students attended the workshop for the consumer study award (Year 2016/2017), which was hosted by an instructor with over twenty years of experience in conducting consumer study award. The workshop was held in a Q&A format to enhance students’ knowledge in topic research, individual sessions were also available for the instructor to know more about the ideas of the students so that suggestions could be given. The consumer study award is an educational activity using daily consumption behaviours as the research topic, it aims to encourage students to get involved in social affairs through practices and experiences, to discover the consumption phenomenon of Macao and to reflect on the meaning of values. Topics included in the proposal submitted include consumers’ choices, the quest of famous brands, trends, and environmental protection, etc., which all reflect the growth mindset of nowadays’ teenagers and help the Council to deepen its research and develop consumer education in schools. The research project is crucial in students’ experience learning and serves to build up healthy consumer values and civil responsibility in their minds. The number of participating teams of this year’s consumer study award has increased, which shows that local schools are now paying more attention to this project. The last stage of the project, which includes a session that allows winning students to gather together and turn their projects into video clips, brings students to another level of experiences. The Chinese Educators Association of Macau, Macau Catholic Schools Association, Macao New Chinese Youth Association, and Associate Professor of Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Vong Sou Kuan Ph.D. have been invited to form a jury together for the research project. The Council hopes that local schools and organizations will continue to support the consumer study award project.
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, briefed representatives from the European Union on Macao’s latest economic developments, including the Government’s first-ever Five-Year Development Plan. The briefing took place in Brussels, Belgium on Monday (5 December) during the 21st EU-Macao Joint Committee meeting, which was co-chaired by the Managing Director of the European External Action Service for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Gunnar Wiegand, and Mr Leong. During the meeting, both sides updated each other on the latest developments of their economies and exchanged views on several issues. Topics discussed included: taxation; legal cooperation; and the Government’s current procurement system. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in priority fields of mutual interest, such as legal training, interpretation and translation training, research and innovation, combating human trafficking, as well as environment protection. Regarding tax policies, the EU welcomed Macao’s commitment to implement an automatic system for information exchange in 2018, and Macao’s recent decision to join the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Inclusive Framework. On EU-Macao cooperation, both sides welcomed the smooth progress of the Third Macao-EU Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, aimed at promoting the modernisation and development of Macao’s legal system. The European Union and the Macao SAR noted that the “EU-Macao Collaboration Scheme for Research and Innovation" – co-funded by the two sides – would encourage Macao researchers to take part in the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The two sides additionally agreed to explore cooperation on environment and green technology, particularly during the Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF). During the meeting, the EU and Macao representatives agreed to continue the training programme in conference interpretation and translation in Chinese and Portuguese in order to meet the demand of the EU and of Macao for qualified interpreters for both languages. The two sides also agreed to strengthen exchanges by establishing a regular dialogue in order to support development of the increasing role of the EU businesses operating in Macao. In addition, Secretary Leong briefed the EU officials about the first ever Five-Year Development Plan for Macao – a blueprint for the city’s socio-economic development spanning the period 2016 to 2020 inclusive. The Plan highlights the Government’s administrative efforts to: achieve Macao’s moderate economic diversification; position the city as a world centre of tourism and leisure and as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies), as envisaged under the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan; and contribute to the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative) Monday’s meeting was the 15th annual meeting since China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao. The previous EU-Macao Joint Committee meeting was held in Macao on 5 December 2015. The annual bilateral meeting is in accordance with Article 16 of the EC-Macao Trade and Co-operation Agreement, signed on 15 December 1992. Other Government officials attending the meeting in Brussels included: the Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the European Union in Brussels, Ms O Tin Lin; the Director of the Macao Economic Services, Mr Tai Kin Ip; Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Ms Gloria Batalha Ung; and several representatives from, respectively, the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, the Office of the Secretary for Security, the Science and Technology Development Fund, the Financial Services Bureau, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, and the Macao Economic Services. While in Brussels, Secretary Leong also met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Belgium, Mr Qu Xing, to exchange views on economic development and cooperation. Following the official visit to Brussels, Mr Leong headed to Lisbon, Portugal. While there, he is scheduled to meet with officials from the Portuguese Government. Mr Leong will also attend events related to a memorandum of understanding on promotion of entrepreneurship and economic and business cooperation, signed in Macao during the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). Mr Leong will return to Macao on Thursday (8 December).
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, briefed representatives from the European Union on Macao’s latest economic developments, including the Government’s first-ever Five-Year Development Plan. The briefing took place in Brussels, Belgium on Monday (5 December) during the 21st EU-Macao Joint Committee meeting, which was co-chaired by the Managing Director of the European External Action Service for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Gunnar Wiegand, and Mr Leong. During the meeting, both sides updated each other on the latest developments of their economies and exchanged views on several issues. Topics discussed included: taxation; legal cooperation; and the Government’s current procurement system. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in priority fields of mutual interest, such as legal training, interpretation and translation training, research and innovation, combating human trafficking, as well as environment protection. Regarding tax policies, the EU welcomed Macao’s commitment to implement an automatic system for information exchange in 2018, and Macao’s recent decision to join the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Inclusive Framework. On EU-Macao cooperation, both sides welcomed the smooth progress of the Third Macao-EU Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, aimed at promoting the modernisation and development of Macao’s legal system. The European Union and the Macao SAR noted that the “EU-Macao Collaboration Scheme for Research and Innovation" – co-funded by the two sides – would encourage Macao researchers to take part in the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The two sides additionally agreed to explore cooperation on environment and green technology, particularly during the Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF). During the meeting, the EU and Macao representatives agreed to continue the training programme in conference interpretation and translation in Chinese and Portuguese in order to meet the demand of the EU and of Macao for qualified interpreters for both languages. The two sides also agreed to strengthen exchanges by establishing a regular dialogue in order to support development of the increasing role of the EU businesses operating in Macao. In addition, Secretary Leong briefed the EU officials about the first ever Five-Year Development Plan for Macao – a blueprint for the city’s socio-economic development spanning the period 2016 to 2020 inclusive. The Plan highlights the Government’s administrative efforts to: achieve Macao’s moderate economic diversification; position the city as a world centre of tourism and leisure and as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies), as envisaged under the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan; and contribute to the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative) Monday’s meeting was the 15th annual meeting since China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao. The previous EU-Macao Joint Committee meeting was held in Macao on 5 December 2015. The annual bilateral meeting is in accordance with Article 16 of the EC-Macao Trade and Co-operation Agreement, signed on 15 December 1992. Other Government officials attending the meeting in Brussels included: the Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the European Union in Brussels, Ms O Tin Lin; the Director of the Macao Economic Services, Mr Tai Kin Ip; Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Ms Gloria Batalha Ung; and several representatives from, respectively, the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, the Office of the Secretary for Security, the Science and Technology Development Fund, the Financial Services Bureau, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, and the Macao Economic Services. While in Brussels, Secretary Leong also met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Belgium, Mr Qu Xing, to exchange views on economic development and cooperation. Following the official visit to Brussels, Mr Leong headed to Lisbon, Portugal. While there, he is scheduled to meet with officials from the Portuguese Government. Mr Leong will also attend events related to a memorandum of understanding on promotion of entrepreneurship and economic and business cooperation, signed in Macao during the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). Mr Leong will return to Macao on Thursday (8 December).
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Macao, special administrative region of People’s Republic of China participated in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for the first time in 2003. Since then, Macao participated in this three-yearly programme in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015. In 2018, Macao will participate for the sixth time. PISA2015 examined the effectiveness of the basic education of all the 15-year-old secondary students born in 1999. The majority of these students were studying in Form 3 and 4 (Grade 9 and 10). For the first time, Grade 10 was the modal grade of the 15-year-old students, and the percentage of students studying in Grade 10 exceeded half of the total sample of Macao’s 15-year-old school population. This finding suggests that Macao is successful in reducing the rate of the grade repetition in its basic education system. In each PISA cycle, three core literacies are assessed, namely, reading, mathematical and scientific literacy. The main focus of PISA2015 was on the assessment of scientific literacy. Amongst the 72 countries/economies participated, Macao is high up in the PISA2015 league table of literacy performance: ranked sixth in scientific literacy (score= 529), twelfth in reading literacy (509), and third in mathematical literacy (544). See Table 1 for details. Scientific literacy consists of three subscales, i.e. Explaining phenomena scientifically, Evaluating and designing scientific enquiries, Interpreting data and evidences scientifically. Macao is high up in the league table of performance of the three scientific literacy subscales: ranked seventh in Explaining phenomena scientifically (score= 528), sixth in Evaluating and designing scientific enquiries (525), and fifth in (532). Amongst the three reported subscales of scientific literacy, Macao students’ performance is best in Interpreting data and evidences scientifically. Students generally are quite good at analyzing data and evaluating evidences presented in various formats, and proposing appropriate scientific conclusions. Comparing the findings of PISA2015 with PISA2006, PISA2015 reveals that Macao students’ scientific literacy performance has been increasing steadily. More than 90% of Macao students reach the baseline level of the overall scientific literacy performance scale. At the same time, the proportion of students who are able to reach the medium or high level of performance has also increased. Admittedly, there is gender difference in scientific literacy performance. In PISA2015, females outperformed males to a significant extent. One minor focus of PISA2015 is on the assessment of mathematical literacy. In PISA2015, Macao students’ performance is the best amongst all previous cycles of PISA. Not only percentage of students attaining medium level or above has increased considerably, but also those attaining below baseline level has decreased appreciably. However, comparing with previous cycles of PISA assessment, females’ progress in mathematical literacy performance is greater than that of the males. In each of the previous cycles of PISA assessment (i.e. from PISA 2003 to PISA2012), there are considerable improvement in mathematical literacy performance for the females than the males. In PISA2015, females start to outperform males in mathematical literacy. Another minor focus of PISA2015 assessment is on the assessment of reading literacy. In PISA2015, Macao students’ reading literacy performance was found to have improved considerably. Percentage of students reaching medium or high levels of reading performance has increased, whereas those not attaining the baseline level has decreased. Macao males come closer to the average of the OECD countries. However, there is still great room for the improvement of gender difference in reading literacy favoring the females, which for the first time is greater than the average of the OECD countries. Same as previous cycles of PISA assessment, the impact of economic, social and cultural status (ESCS) on literacy performance is also one of the weakest amongst the 72 participating countries/economies. The slopes of the ESCS gradient lines are all also very gentle. Not only the share of low-performing students in the student population is one of the lowest, but also the share of academic resilient students in the student population is one of the highest amongst all participating economies in PISA 2015. Range of student performance at both high and low ends of the literacy continuum, as well as both the magnitude of between- and within-school variances are small enough that are indicative of a homogeneous school population. In a nutshell, Macao’s education system is not only of very good quality, but also of very high equity. High level of science and technology is of paramount importance raising the economic development of countries/economies in the 21st century. Cultivation of talents who are able to take the initiative to innovate and explore in scientific and technological arenas will bring a nation or an economy to new heights. In OECD countries, on average 1/4 of its 15-year-olds anticipate to embark on a career related to science and technology. For Macao, it is 1/5. Also, Macao males are aspiring more than the females to embark on a career related to science and technology. Educational practitioners should reflect on how to assist students to further their study and enter the workplace smoothly. There are fervent needs to foster 21st century skills in students so as to meet the challenges of contemporary societies. Based on the plans of students’ career and Macao’s societal development, schools should put forward proposals to cultivate talents who are able to play prominent roles in the society. Education policies should pay due attention to individual differences manifested in the school population. There are needs to initiate plans to help males to study effectively. Pastoral care needs to be strengthened, and academic support rendered to students at the full range of the ability continuum should be increased. Regarding this, plans with a focus on individually configured education should be furnished, so that students’ inner potentials can be maximized. There are needs to pay due attention to the education of the males, so that alongside with the females they collaborate to raise the overall quality of Macao’s basic education system. Macao ranks amongst the leading positions amongst 72 countries/economies in the various league tables of literacy performance in PISA2015. The results showed that Macao’s basic education system has made considerable progress since Macao’s return to its motherland in 1999. The success of Macao in PISA2015 is mainly due to that its basic education system is able to increase the proportion of students with middle/high proficiency levels in the three literacy domains, as well as to reduce the share of low-achievers who are below the baseline level of literacy performance. See Figure 1 for details.
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Published by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and produced by 100 Plus Cultural Creative Development Ltd., the eighteenth issue of the C2 magazine will be launched on 7 December (Wednesday). In recent years, budding artists in the show business industry in Macao have more opportunities to present their works to the world. In order to explore the survival and development in this industry, local artists are invited to share their careers, their dreams, and the opportunities available in the industry in this issue. In the section “Feature”, singers like Germano Guilherme who is Macanese (nicknamed “One Million Stars Eurasian”), Vivian Chan who made her name in Hong Kong, singer and talent agent Hyper Lo, talk about the current state of the music industry in Macao and analyse the differences between the markets in Hong Kong and Macao. They also talk about the hurdles Macao artists have to overcome in their career paths. Like Entertainment & Productions, a Macao talent agency, remarks that integrating creation into the new media will provide more opportunities to artists. In the column “Opinion”, independent publisher Sharky Chen talks about the future of the publishing industry in the Chinese market, and analyses how social media brings challenges and opportunities to writers. In “Brand Story”, Hong Kong pop-up book artist Kit Lau shares how his popular Hong Kong Pop Up series documents the typical culture of the Hong Kong and other places in an interesting and creative way and how it is welcome by the readers. In “Budding Talents”, set designer Cola Wong who studied stage design in the United Kingdom and Taiwan talks about her learning experiences in these two places, as well as the development of stage design in Macao. “Blogs” columnists, Joe Tang, Ho Ka Cheng, Yi-Hsin Lin, Yap Seow Choong, Ron Lam, Ashley Chong and Cheong Sio Pang continue to share their unique perspectives on the development of the cultural and creative industries. C2 is a trilingual magazine (in Chinese, Portuguese and English). Readers are welcome to browse or download the magazine at www.c2magazine.mo. C2 is a bimonthly magazine and issue on the first Wednesday every two months. The next issue will be launched on 1 February 2017. Besides, the email subscription function is now available. Simply click the “subscribe” button on the right-hand side of our webpage and enter your email address to subscribe to C2 magazine and receive regular information about every issue .For the latest updates, you may also visit the magazine’s page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/c2magazine.macau, or on WeChat, by clicking “add friend” and inputting “c2magazine” in the ID column. For enquiries, please email to c2magazine.macau@gmail.com.
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Published by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and produced by 100 Plus Cultural Creative Development Ltd., the eighteenth issue of the C2 magazine will be launched on 7 December (Wednesday). In recent years, budding artists in the show business industry in Macao have more opportunities to present their works to the world. In order to explore the survival and development in this industry, local artists are invited to share their careers, their dreams, and the opportunities available in the industry in this issue.
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