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Four bachelor degree programmes offered by the University of Macau's (UM) Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), namely Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Electromechanical Engineering, received accreditation from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). Students starting these four programmes in the 2011/2012 academic year are recognised under this accreditation, and upon graduation they will be qualified to become members of HKIE in order to receive professional qualifications recognised worldwide. This is the first time that Macao's degree programmes have received accreditation from HKIE. Today, UM held a HKIE accreditation ceremony for the four programmes. UM Rector Wei Zhao; Prof Philip Chen, dean of UM's FST; Ir Prof K K Choy, president of HKIE; Ir Jolly Wong, head of the Communications Branch and chief police telecommunications engineer of the Hong Kong Police Force (chairman of the visiting team); Ir Dr Alex Chan, managing director of the Applied Technology Integration Ltd. (co-chairman of the visiting team) and other guests attended the ceremony. Rector Wei Zhao noted in his speech that this is the first time that HKIE has conducted the accreditation exercise outside of Hong Kong, and receiving the accreditation from HKIE represents recognition of the academic programmes of FST. Rector Wei Zhao added that it also represents a big step forward for the university towards the goal of becoming a world-class university. Rector Wei Zhao mentioned that UM will continue to enhance collaboration with international organisations, so as to nurture more outstanding graduates for Macao, China, and the world. HKIE President Ir Prof K K Choy said UM is a high-quality institution in the region with a solid academic foundation. Its graduates will be qualified to become members of HKIE in order to receive professional qualifications recognised worldwide. Ir Jolly Wong and Ir Dr Alex Chan indicated that it is a breakthrough in the international agreement for HKIE to conduct the accreditation exercise for UM. In accordance with the provisions of the Washington Accord, the mutually recognised policy applies to accreditation exercise conducted within the jurisdictions of the members, but normally does not apply to accreditation exercise conducted overseas. However, this accreditation exercise for UM is different. Aiming at obtaining the recognition from all members in the Washington Accord, HKIE obtained the authorisation from the Council, and applied the special codes of the Washington Accord in this special accreditation exercise. With the same goal to gain acceptance from all Accord members, HKIE followed the accreditation standards and procedures throughout the process, so as to meet the requirements of all signatories of the Washington Accord. If it succeeds, these four programmes will be the first batch of programmes to be accredited by the international signatories under the special codes. FST Dean Prof Philip Chen said HKIE considers the development of programmes as a vital element, and pays particular attention to whether the programmes evolve with technology and the changing needs of the profession and society. As such, HKIE not only reviewed the mathematics and basic science courses, but also reviewed the engineering topics that included engineering sciences, engineering design and synthesis, health, safety and the environment, laboratory and field work, and projects. Meanwhile, they looked over some complementary studies, such as practical training, communications, and professional engineering. The HKIE accreditation exercise was conducted on several levels—the university level (support for the accreditation exercise and further development), the faculty level (overall operation), the department level (management in development for faculty members, education for students and programmes) and the programme level (programme contents, preparation for career development and further studies for students). In order to better understand these four perspectives, the HKIE accreditation visiting team met with UM rector, vice rectors, all faculty members of FST, FST advisory board members, departmental advisors, and representatives of alumni and students. HKIE is one of the signatories of the Washington Accord. The engineering degree programmes accredited by HKIE are recognised by the other Washington Accord signatories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, etc. Moreover, HKIE is one of the signatories of the Seoul Accord. For the computer science programmes accredited by HKIE, they are recognised by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for October-December 2012 held stable at 1.9% in comparison with the previous period (September-November 2012); the underemployment rate was 0.7%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force was 357,000 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.4%. Total employment reached 350,000, an increase of 500 over the previous period. Analysed by industry, Retail Trade and Manufacturing saw increase in employment, while Construction registered a decrease. Number of the unemployed was similar to the previous period, at 6,600, with 16.1% being fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job, down by 0.6 percentage points. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the general unemployment rate (1.9%) and unemployment rate of local residents (2.4%) decreased by 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points quarter-to-quarter. Total labour force increased by 5,400 quarter-to-quarter, of which total employment rose by 5,800 and the unemployed decreased by 400. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed amounted to MOP12,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012, up by MOP300 quarter-to-quarter, and that of the employed local residents remained unchanged, at MOP13,000. The unemployment rate stood at 2.0% for the whole year of 2012 and the unemployment rate of local residents was 2.6%, both down by 0.6 percentage points year-on-year.
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Pousada de Mong-Há has won the Top Bargain Hotel in Greater China in the 2013 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards. It is the 3rd out of 20 hotels in Greater China and it is also ranked as one of the Top Bargain Hotels in Asia. Pousada de Mong-Há is a training hotel operated by Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT). It features 20 guestrooms including 4 suites, with 2 restaurants, a conference room, gym room, herb garden and a cozy library. Situated on a historic hilltop and away from the casino glitz, the hotel is an oasis in the bustling little city where guests can enjoy the peaceful ambience. What makes the hotel different is that guests can feel the enthusiasm and care of the students cultivated by this internationally recognised tourism institute, also with the great contribution from a team of hospitality professionals for their coaching and management role in the hotel. Guest is also a very important component for a training hotel, giving students chances for applying the knowledge they have learnt into real situations. Moreover, Pousada de Mong-Há has added a new front desk counter at the hotel lobby so as to create an environment for students to enhance interactions with guests. Being a training hotel, winning awards and getting recognitions from the public means a lot to students. It gives them valuable support and encouragement. This is also recognition for IFT's teaching standards and thus motivating IFT to always be at the forefront of teaching quality. The annual TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards honour the world's best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers. Unlike many other hotel awards programmes in the world, TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice is the only award based purely on the millions of reviews and opinions from guests around the world. Further to the TripAdvisor award, Pousada de Mong-Há has also been recommended by the Michelin Hong Kong and Macau Guidebook for 5 consecutive years. For details, please visit www.ift.edu.mo/pousada.
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The Centre of Languages of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau is offering an Elementary Mandarin Course with English as the medium of instruction.
This course is designed for non-Chinese speaking Macao residents who are 15 years of age or above. This course will be conducted every Monday and Wednesday from 18:30 to 20:30, between February 18th and April 10th, 2013. There will be 30 contact hours and the class will be held on the 3rd Floor of the Centre of Languages at Rua Formosa No. 31.
Interested individuals may enroll for the course from January 29th to February 6th, 2013 during weekdays from 9:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays either from 9:30 to 13:00 or 14:00 to 18:30. Applicants please present original ID card together with a copy and MOP100.00 during enrollment. For further enquiries, please call 28400211.
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Short-term measures to ensure Macao residents of an adequate supply of infant formula have been announced due to recent changes in supply on the market, according to the Office of the Chief Executive. The announcement was made today after the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, convened an inter-departmental meeting at the Government Headquarters where the Secretary for Economic and Finance Mr Tam Pak Yuen, and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Cheong U's, reported the latest development and the actions taken. Since a shortage of milk powder could affect babies' health, which is considered as a public health emergency, Mr Chui stressed that the Government has to implement stabilising measures to assist local residents in buying powdered milk for their personal use. The Chief Executive also instructed the related department to closely monitor its supply and marketing and to keep in touch with suppliers. At the same time more frequent inspections would be carried out and Macao Customs would continue to closely monitor people leaving Macao. The new measures call for residents who need infant formula to register with the authorities on a voluntary basis: distributors would then ensure they can buy an adequate quantity. Details will be announced by the Health Bureau and the Macao Consumer Council. The meeting today was also attend by the Chief of the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ms Cheong So Mui, Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, acting Director of the Macao Economic Services, Mr Tai Kin Ip, President of Executive Committee, Mr Wong Hon Neng, Director of the Health Bureau, Mr Lei Chin Ion and other health officials.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific product price survey on eggs earlier. Survey result showed that prices of eggs were stable and the greatest price difference of the same egg brand sold at different retail outlets recorded was 27.55 percent. The Council conducted a price check on 9 brands of eggs from 13 supermarkets on 24th January. Survey result showed that egg prices remained stable, those which recorded price differences of over 20 percent included 'Fresh eggs (Hubei Jinsheng)/8 pcs', which was sold at $9.8 to $12.5, with a price difference of 27.55 percent; 'Fred Meyer Grade AA Extra Large Eggs/12 pcs', which was sold at $18.8 to $22.8, with a price difference of 21.28 percent; 'Surewin Egg/8pcs', which was sold at $12.0 to $14.5, with a difference of 20.83 percent. In comparison with November's survey result, the current survey showed that prices of eggs were stable as 7 of the 9 surveyed brands recorded no change in price this time. Consumer Council indicates that its specific price survey aims at helping consumers make price comparison for the same product, consumers are therefore advised to check with the 'Specific product price information platform' prior to making purchase. The specific price survey on eggs is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs. 2 new brands had been added to this month's survey and the highest price difference recorded this time amounted to over 50 percent. Consumer Council collected prices of 8 over-the-counter drugs from 28 drugstores on 22nd January, surveyed drugs included remedies for cold and flu, cough syrup, and stomachache medicine, etc.. 'Panadol cold & flu/20 capsules', which was sold at $40.8 to $62.0, differed for 51.96 percent. 'Pei Pa Koa/300ml', which was sold at $31.5 to $46.0, differed for 46.03%. The specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs showed that two surveyed drug brands recorded no change in price, other brands recorded less than 10 percent of price increases and decreases. Consumer Council indicates that its specific price survey aims at helping consumer make price comparison for the same product, consumers are therefore advised to check with the 'Specific product price information platform' prior to making purchase. The specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council released its first 'Supermarket Price Survey' of this year dated 17th January. In comparison with last time's survey, prices of around 60 percent of the surveyed products, mainly beverages, cleansing and hygienic products, had been decreased and recorded no change in price. Around 40 percent of the surveyed products recorded minimal increases in price. In the current survey, prices of 108 products, or 31 percent of the total number, had dropped, they included beverages, cleansing and hygienic products. Prices of around 27 percent of products remained unchanged. Shampoos and shower gels recorded minimal to about 4 percent of decreases in price while rice, canned foods and cereal products recorded no change in price. About 40 percent of products, mainly cooking oil, seasonings and dairy products, recorded minimal changes of less than 1 percent increase in price. Meanwhile, price increases recorded in seasonings ranged from 2 to 6 percent. Price increases were also observed in frozen food in which average prices of 7 of the 9 surveyed products had been raised slightly to up to over 16 percent. Among the 11 fixed choices of supermarkets surveyed by the Council, Tai Fung supermarket in Taipa recorded the highest percentage of on-shelf lowest price items, which meant that around 60 percent of over 250 items sold at Taipa Tai Fung recorded the lowest price among all surveyed supermarkets in the current survey. Park'n Shop at R. Areia Preta came next, with 24 percent of its over 180 on-shelf items having the lowest price. 20 percent of the over 260 items sold at Lee Fong supermarket at Almirante Costa Cabral also recorded the lowest price. Consumer Council reminds consumers that among the various supermarket chain stores surveyed, selling prices were found to vary in different branches in different regions. In this month's survey, price discrepancies were observed mainly in branches of San Miu supermarket in which about one third of the surveyed products sold at its R. dos Mercadores branch and Millennium Court branch were found to have different selling prices, price differences ranged from 5 to 10 percent were observed and found mainly in cereal products and canned foods. Prices of 10 products were also found to differ up to 60 percent in different branches of both Royal Supermarket and Park'n Shop. Consumers are advised to check with the information available on the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform', especially the function of 'Top Ten Price Differences' for the surveyed products. Consumers can also download the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps to make price comparisons. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. 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. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Owing to the snow and icy conditions of the whole country in United Kingdom, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) from Macao to United Kingdom are subject to delay until further notice.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals decreased by 2.0% year-on-year to 2,495,851 in December 2012, and same-day visitors (1,243,291) accounted for 49.8% of the total. The average length of stay of visitors stood at 1.0 day, up by 0.1 day year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China increased slightly by 0.9% from December 2011 to 1,495,316, coming mostly from Guangdong Province (613,392) and Fujian Province (67,444); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) increased by 5.4% to 603,904. Visitor arrivals from Taiwan, China (88,814) and the Republic of Korea (44,150) increased by 3.6% and 14.7% respectively; however, those coming from Hong Kong (611,826) and Malaysia (37,778) both decreased by 7.0%. Long-haul visitors from Europe (22,828) increased by 5.9%, while those from the Americas (26,070) and Oceania (12,436) decreased by 6.8% and 4.5% respectively. For the whole year of 2012, visitor arrivals increased by 0.3% year-on-year to 28,082,292; same-day visitors (14,504,994) accounted for 51.7% of the total. The average length of stay of visitors stood at 1.0 day, similar to that of 2011. Analysed by place of residents, visitors from Mainland China increased by 4.6% year-on-year to 16,902,499 in 2012, of which 7,131,904 travelled to Macao under the IVS, up by 8.2%; those from the Republic of Korea (444,773) and Thailand (231,295) increased by 11.5% and 17.8% respectively. However, visitor arrivals from Hong Kong (7,081,153) and Taiwan, China (1,072,052) decreased by 6.6% and 11.8% respectively. Long-haul visitors from Europe (262,692) and Oceania (129,165) increased by 4.3% and 0.9% respectively, while those from the Americas (306,521) decreased by 1.3%.
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