The University of Macau (UM) respects the report released by the Commission of Audit of the Macao SAR. UM always follows the principle of spending public money properly to make sure that the allocation of resources can best serve the university’s development objectives. UM will carefully study the suggestions put forward in the report regarding the staff housing system, the research institute in Zhuhai, and the establishment of the University of Macau Development Foundation (UMDF), and will take appropriate actions for improvement.

In response to the staff housing system mentioned in the report, UM stresses that on-campus housing is not meant as a social benefit; it was designed to meet the need of the university’s development and to facilitate the university’s pursuit of academic excellence. The housing system is in line with the usual practice of higher education institutions worldwide. It aims to increase the university’s competitiveness on the market, and more importantly, to motivate academic staff to stay on the campus so they can have more time to interact with the students. In 2013, the Commission Against Corruption, Macao SAR enquired about UM’s staff housing system, and its study did not reveal any deviation of the system from the university’s development objectives or educational philosophy.

And the reason why the UMacau Research Institute Zhuhai was registered as a ‘private, non-business entity’ is that currently there are no laws or regulations in mainland China governing non-profit organisations in Zhuhai established by government departments or public organisations from Macao. It was only after numerous consultations and failed attempts on the part of UM to establish a research institute in Zhuhai that it was finally decided to register the research institute as a private non-business entity. UM realises that some aspects of the establishment of the research institute may not have been handled very appropriately, so UM submitted a report to the University Council in late 2014 and has signed an agreement with the research institute to legally make sure that UM has strict control and supervision over the research institute. The research institute has successfully obtained funding in the amount of approximately RMB 3 million from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) for eight projects, and according to the relevant rules and regulations, these projects will be subject to the supervision of the NNSFC and UM.

UM welcomes the Commission of Audit’s suggestions about the UMDF. In addition to considering the possibility of adopting the suggestions that the UMDF be established by UM as the founder in accordance with the Civil Code or that the UMDF be established as a self-governing body through legislation, UM will also explore other options.

 

UM also thanks all strata of society for their caring, and will submit a detailed report to the supervisory body concerned.


Source: Communications Office

 

Media Contact Information:

Communications Office, University of Macau

Albee Lei  Tel：(853) 88228004

Kristy Fok  Tel：(853) 88228006

Email：prs.media@um.edu.mo

UM Website：www.umac.mo