The opening ceremony of the 25th annual meeting of the Association of Portuguese Speaking Universities (Associação das Universidades de Lingua Portuguesa, AULP) was held in Praia county, Cape Verde. Cape Verde Prime Minister José Maria Neves, Cape Verde Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation António Correia e Silva, and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Tam Chon Weng attended the meeting. University of Macau (UM) Rector Wei Zhao delivered an address at the opening ceremony in Portuguese, winning a big applause from the participants.

Rector Wei Zhao stressed in his speech that UM has been an active participant in the AULP’s work over the past 28 years and now serves as its president. He noted that Portuguese is one of the official languages in Macao, and UM is the strongest among all higher education institutions in Asia in terms of the presence of the Portuguese language, which is particularly reflected in the programmes offered by its Faculty of Law and Department of Portuguese. He added that as the president of the AULP, UM will continue to promote communication among AULP members and will work with the other members in promoting the development of teaching in the various institutions as well as the popularisation of the Portuguese language worldwide.

After the opening ceremony, UM signed a collaboration agreement with the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Cape Verde. The agreement aims to promote academic collaboration between both parties, especially in the field of talent training.

The AULP’s Board of Directors also held a meeting on the same day. UM Vice Rector (Research) Prof Rui Martins is the president of the Board of Directors. One of the important items on the meeting agenda was a discussion of the AULP’s three-year activity plan, which was initiated by UM, with the participation of all members of the Board of Directors. 


Source: Rector’s 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