The University of Macau (UM) today (28 November) held\nthe Congregation 2020, which was livestreamed to prevent the spread of the\nnovel coronavirus. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U,\nrepresenting the chief executive and UM chancellor at this year\u2019s ceremony,\nsaid that UM adopted a series of anti-epidemic measures to ensure the smooth\nprogress of teaching and research activities. She also thanked UM for its\ncontributions to the SAR government in its efforts to fight the pandemic.<\/p>
Unlike previous graduation ceremonies, this year\u2019s\nceremony was livestreamed, with doctoral degrees, master’s degrees,\npostgraduate certificates\/diplomas, and bachelor’s degrees presented at the\nsame time. Ao Ieong U officiated at the ceremony in the company of UM\nUniversity Council Chair Lam Kam Seng, UM Rector Yonghua Song, and Vice Rectors\nMichael Hui, Rui Martins, Ge Wei, and Billy So. Representatives of the\nUniversity Assembly, University Council, and Senate, as well as government\nofficials, prominent members of the community, UM faculty and staff, and\nstudent representatives also witnessed the ceremony. Graduates and their\nfamilies and friends who were unable to attend the ceremony in person\nparticipated in the ceremony online in the three streaming locations on campus.<\/p>
In her speech, Ao Ieong U said: \u2018The unexpected outbreak\nof the novel coronavirus pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges on\nthe economic and social fronts for the SAR, the country, and the world. Daily\nteaching and research operations at higher institutions were significantly\ndisrupted as a consequence of the outbreak. The University of Macau has adopted\na series of response measures to enable students to \u201ccontinue learning despite\nclass suspension\u201d and to ensure that teaching and research activities are\ncarried out smoothly, all the while actively supporting the SAR government in\nits efforts to counter the pandemic. For that, I would like to extend my most\nsincere appreciation to you all.\u2019<\/p>
She added: \u2018As the teaching and research standards of\nthe University of Macau rise continuously in recent years, the university has\nassumed relatively important position and advantages at the west bank of the\nGreater Bay. The SAR government will continue to adhere to the philosophy of\n\u2018helping Macao thrive through education and building Macao with talent\u2019,\nexpanding the intake of non-local students without compromising local students\u2019\naccess to education. We will also support and encourage institutions to\ninnovate for industry-academia-research collaboration through external\ncooperation while facilitating the commercialisation of research results and\ndeveloping industrial parks in a pragmatic and orderly manner. In addition, we\nwill endeavour to enhance education quality, promote sustainable development of\nhigher education and nurture more world-class talents to effectively support\nthe measured diversification of Macao\u2019s economy.\u2019<\/p>
Rector Song also delivered a speech. In the speech, he\nsaid: \u2018I am glad that even though students were compelled to stay apart, they\ncared for and supported each other, and actively participated in the fight\nagainst the coronavirus, all the while keeping pace with their studies.\nMeanwhile, professors held steadfast to their positions and made unremitting\nefforts to constantly adapt and improve online teaching. Research teams raced\nagainst the clock to provide support in response to the coronavirus outbreak.\nAll sections of the university played an active part to facilitate pandemic\ncontrol and prevention measures in Macao. Concurrently, the university\nconsolidated its internal and external teaching resources to offer SME training\ncourses to the public free of charge. During the pandemic, professors and\nstudents demonstrated strong will and dedication, allowing the university to\ngive full play to its capabilities in order to adapt and serve in face of the\nepidemic. \u2019 He closed by offering three suggestions to the students, saying:\n\u2018First, more than ever, we should have a sense of patriotism and\nresponsibility. Second, more than ever, we should stay optimistic and\npersevere. Third, more than ever before, we should keep learning and progress\nthrough change.\u2019<\/p>
Qin Yiwei, representative of the graduates from\npostgraduate programmes, said in her speech: \u2019I\u2019ve learned some very important\nepistemological virtues at the University of Macau: patience (thus never\nsurrender), diligence (thus never stop trying), curiosity (thus not limiting\nourselves in the boxes), humbleness (thus not self-centric, and therefore\nimprovement is possible), and courageousness (thus we can stand strong under\npress and depression). Dear fellow graduates, if you feel depressed or unlucky\nsomeday, come back to this very moment, reflect on your UM experience, think\nabout the virtues that we learned here: patience, diligence, curiosity,\nhumbleness, and courageousness. They would urge you not to worry because the\nbest is yet to come.\u2019<\/p>
Che In Man, representative of graduates from\nundergraduate programmes, said in her speech: \u2018We will carry virtue,\ntenderness, and sensitivity to one another through our strong action and\npassion. We will continue to withstand the world ahead of us, sustaining our\nambitions and triumphing over challenges. \u2019<\/p>
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This year, a total of 2,256 students graduated from\ndoctoral, master\u2019s, postgraduate certificate\/diploma, and bachelor’s degree\nprogrammes. They come from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of\nBusiness Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences,\nFaculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Social Sciences,\nInstitute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, and Institute of\nChinese Medical Sciences. Among them, 38 outstanding students have completed\ncourses offered by the Honours College. <\/p>
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Source: Communications Office<\/p>
Media Contact Information: Communications Office, University of Macau<\/p>
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Albee Lei Tel\uff1a(853) 88228004Judite Lam Tel\uff1a(853) 88228022Email\uff1aprs.media@um.edu.mo<\/p>
UM Website\uff1awww.um.edu.mo<\/p>
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