 |
| The simple yet lively design of the RCs ensure an ideal environment for interaction |
|
|
| Students and parents visit the RCs in batches |
|
|
| Graduating secondary school students surnamed Wu (left) and Wong both look forward to living in an RC at UM |
Recently, the East Asia College (EAC) and the Pearl Jubilee College (PJC), two residential colleges (RC) at the University of Macau (UM), organized an “Open Day”, which attracted many secondary school students and their parents. Some participants were so impressed with the ideas about the RC system that they enrolled for the RC programme on the spot.
EAC Head Prof. Iu Vai Pan and PJC Head Prof. George Watt talked in detail about the ideas, characteristics and the latest developments of the two RCs. They told the participants that EAC and PJC now have 250 and 160 spaces respectively and during the past year the two RCs organized a series of activities, including reading sharing, talks by distinguished people, high table dinners, holiday parties, concerts, debate contests, interest classes in ball games and visits to the elderly’s home. These activities fell into five broad categories in nature: academic activities, social activities, cultural activities, sports activities, and community services.
Mr. Wu who works in a local secondary school said that an RC is a community where students of different cultural backgrounds and years of study live and learn together and influence one another. He said RC system is key to the success of many renowned universities in the world and he believes that the two RCs at UM enable UM students and staff to enhance communication and create a rich academic atmosphere. He added that he is very optimistic about the future development of UM and looks forward to the day when UM becomes a world-class university. Mr. Ho, whose son is studying at a local secondary school, said that it was the first time he had set foot on UM’s campus and UM struck him as a modern university full of vigour and vitality. He added that he is very impressed with the RC system at UM and hopes that his son can live in an RC at UM.
The current students of the two RCs talked about the different functions of different areas as they led the participants on a tour around the RCs. “How cool!” “It’s so pretty!” exclaimed one after another. Many participants were so impressed with what they saw and heard that they enrolled for the RC programme on the spot.
“I have decided to enroll for the pilot RC programme at UM and I look forward to living in an RC on the new campus,” said Wu, a student who is studying at the Colegio De St. Rosa De Lima (Chinese Section). She has applied to the Department of Communication at UM. Wu said that Macao is a tiny city but that doesn’t mean one should be content to live like a frog in a shallow well. She said one should jump out of the shallow well to see more of the world for that’s important not only for one’s personal growth but also for the progress of the society in which one lives. She said that the ideas about the RC system are very good and can help the students to gain a deeper understanding of different cultures. Another student surnamed Wong who is studying at the Macau Yuet Wah College said he hopes that through the RC programme he can make friends from different countries and faculties and learn knowledge outside his chosen field.
