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The University of Macau holds its first University Assembly and University Council Joint Meeting for the 2011/2012 academic year
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Group Photo

The University of Macau’s (UM) first University Assembly and University Council Joint Meeting for the 2011/2012 academic year was held on 13 June. Chui Sai On, chief executive of Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of UM’s University Assembly, said at the meeting that with the completion of the new campus at the end of this year, UM will embark on a new stage of development. He expressed his hope that UM educates students with a multi-faceted approach to increase the international competitiveness of Macao people and make a contribution to the development of Macao and China. The latest development of UM, including the progress of the new campus and the Charter revision work were also reported at the meeting.

In his speech, Chui Sai On noted that the SAR government’s goal to develop Macao into a world tourist centre and a platform for business and trade cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries requires that UM, as the first university in Macao, fulfill its responsibility to continue to nurture quality graduates, because education is an important means of providing a steady supply of professionals to answer society’s needs. He praised that UM has lived up to people’s expectations since the founding of the Macao SAR government. He said that UM has always made an effort to seize the opportunities brought by the rapid economic development and bravely risen up to the various challenges with the progress of society. He noted that with the support of the SAR government and the local community, UM has constantly improved itself in various areas, as reflected in the introduction of an international-quality campus management system, the development of a quality faculty team, the promotion of an environmentally-friendly campus, the effort to create a group of high-quality disciplines with distinct character, the importance it attaches to the state key laboratories, and the implementation of a new “4-in-1” pedagogical model that consists of discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, and community and peer education. He said UM keeps pace with the times and is determined to become a world-class university with regional characteristics through various reforms.

UM will embark on a new stage in its history after the new campus is built. Chui expressed his hope that UM can draw a blueprint for the future and nurture outstanding graduates with a multi-faceted approach in order to raise Macao people’s international competitiveness and contribute to the development of Macao and China. He said that the SAR government will increase investment in education and provide continued support for UM.

UM Rector Wei Zhao then gave a speech in which he made a work summary for 2012 and shared work priorities for the 2012/2013 academic year in administration, academic affairs, student affairs and research. He said in administration UM will continue to cooperate with the UM Charter Revision Task Force to implement the various phases of the Charter revision, and will revise the mid- and long-term development plans and devise contingency plans for new campus construction and relocation, to ensure safety and stability during the relocation process. He added that UM will operate in accordance with law and use public funds prudently. In academic affairs, he mentioned that UM will implement a multi-track academic staff management scheme, continue to reform law programmes, and institutionalize the “4-in-1” pedagogical model. On the front of student affairs, he disclosed that UM will further improve the student affairs system through restructuring, and will increase the scale of residential colleges. For research, he said UM will make preparations for the establishment of a large-scale, open biochemical laboratory, and will promote multi-disciplinary cooperation and explore other research methodologies of social sciences.

Attendees at the joint meeting included Chui Sai On, Ng Fok, Vitor Ng, Lei Pang Chu, Lam Kam Seng, Siu Yin Wai, Zhou Ligao, Maria Edith da Silva, Ma Iao Lai, Susana Chou, Leong Vai Tac, Ho Iat Seng, Joaquim Jorge Perestrelo Neto Valente, Wong Chi Seng, Wong King Keung, Lao Ngai Leong, José Lai, Kong Tat Choi, Lei Pui Lam, Wong Chong Fat, Tong Chi Kin, Kou Kam Fai, Chui Sai Peng, Au Chong Kit, Leong Heng Teng, Vong Hin Fai, Yeung Tsun Man, Huen Wing Ming, Iao Man Leng, Sou Chio Fai, Vitória Alice Maria da Conceição, Tse Chi Wai, Wei Zhao, Simon Ho, Rui Martins, Alex Lai, Philip Chen, Jacky So, Xu Jie, Tong Io Cheng, Ao Peng Kong, Kot Man Kam, Liao Jianfeng, and Vu Kai Pong. Cheong U, secretary for social affairs and culture of Macao SAR, and Tam Chon Weng, chief of the Office of the Chief Executive also attended the meeting as non-voting delegates.
 

Should you have any query, please feel free to contact Ms. Albee Lei at(853)8397 4325 or albeelei@um.edu.mo or visit UM webpage www.umac.mo.