The University of Macau (UM) yesterday (19 June) held\nthe Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC)\nfor the 2017\/2018 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall. Chui Sai On,\nchief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided\nover the meeting. Chui said that the Macao SAR government accords great\nimportance to education and hopes UM will redouble its effort to produce\nhigh-calibre professionals in various fields. <\/p>
Chui said, \u2018We can never stress more the importance of\neducation to our nation and its role in the social and economic progress of the\nMacao community. Talent nurturing has always been at the top of our policy\nagenda and it is our conviction that it is a means to making Macao thrive and\nprosperous. To do that well, therefore, we are optimising education policies\nand we are providing more resources for education. The Hengqin campus brings in\nnew opportunities and now, a new chapter. All this is how we can describe this\nuniversity as we know it today and all this is attributable to the successful\nworkings of One Country Two Systems and no less to the steadfast support of\nhigher education by the central government, the SAR government and the local\ncommunity.\u2019 <\/p>
He said, \u2018I trust that under the concerted efforts of\nits staff, the university will be able to do a good job to measure up to what\nsociety expects of it. On my part, I hold the same expectations of the\nuniversity: keep exploring, make use of the integrated learning approach to\nproduce a great education in various disciplines, be innovation-spirited and be\nreactive to the socio-economic developments of our society.\u2019 He added, \u2018The\nUniversity of Macau is a public comprehensive tertiary education institution,\nwhich obliges it to carry on with the important mission of talent nurturing and\nensure that there be adequate talent to sustain the successful operation of One\nCountry Two Systems.\u2019 <\/p>
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University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng delivered a report\non the UC\u2019s work over the past academic year. He said that in the past year, UM\nproduced good results in the selection of a new rector, in nurturing talent and\nleveraging the university\u2019s teaching and research forte, and in instituting a\nregime of intellectual property protection to encourage the application of\nresearch output. In conclusion, Lam said a new chapter of local higher\neducation is now open to us as the Higher Education Regime is to be operative\nsoon, and UM will position itself well for that. <\/p>
Rector Yonghua Song reported the university\u2019s progress in various areas,\nincluding talent development, teaching, and scientific research. He said UM has\nproduced good results in technological innovations, and in the future the\nuniversity will redouble its effort to train multidisciplinary graduates with\ncreative thinking skills. Currently, UM is preparing for the establishment of a\nthird state key laboratory in smart cities and the Internet of Things. It will\nactively integrate into the Greater Bay Area and participate in national\nresearch projects, and establish a mechanism for research collaboration, in\norder to increase the innovativeness and impact of research output, and\ncontribute to the moderate diversification of Macao\u2019s economy and the\ndevelopment of the Greater Bay Area. <\/p>
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Tam Chon Weng\nhosted a dinner for UA and UC members after the joint meeting to thank them for\ntheir hard work in the past year. Secretary Tam pledged continued support for\nUM and expressed hope that UM will produce more high-calibre professionals in\nscience and technology to help Macao integrate into the Greater Bay Area and\nrealise the moderate diversification of its economy. <\/p>
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The UA and the UC consist of prominent members of the\ncommunity, UM\u2019s management, as well as representatives of faculty members, students,\nand alumni. The following individuals attended this year\u2019s UAUC Joint Meeting:\nChui Sai On, Lam Kam Seng, Lei Pui Lam, Wong Chong Fat, Lau Veng Lin, Ng Fok,\nSiu Yin Wai, Zhou Ligao, Susana Chou, Wong King Keung, Lao Ngai Leong, Cheng\nKar Shing, Fok Chun-wan, Tse Chi Wai, Anabela F\u00e1tima Xavier Sales Ritchie, Tong\nChi Kin, Kou Kam Fai, Au Chong Kit, Huen Wing Ming, Ip Peng Kin, Sou Chio Fai, Lou\nPak Sang, Iong Kong Leong, Yonghua Song, Lionel Ni, Rui Martins, Kou Mei, Jacky\nSo, Hong Gang Jin, Iu Vai Pan, Wong Pak Kin, Ao Peng Kong, Kot Man Kam, Ieong\nMan In, Ouyang Mingcong, Leung Kai Chun (secretary of UA and secretary general\nof UC ). Those who sat in on the meeting included Secretary for Social Affairs\nand Culture Tam Chon Weng, and Chief of the Office of the Chief Executive O\nLam. <\/p>