The University of Macau (UM) traces its roots back to the establishment of the University of East Asia (UEA) in March 1981. In 1979, Ricci Island West Ltd was granted a land lease by the Macao government, which enabled Mr Wong King Keung, Mr Edward Woo Pak Hay, and Mr Peter Eng Yuk Lun to establish the private University of East Asia. As the first modern university in Macao, the establishment of UEA marked the beginning of modern higher education in Macao.
Prof Hsueh Shou Sheng was the founding rector of UEA. The university adopted the motto ‘Humanity, Integrity, Propriety, Wisdom, and Sincerity’, and followed the British education system. It comprised the University College, Junior College, and College for Continuing Education. During the early stage, most of UEA students were from Hong Kong. Following the signing of the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration in 1987, the Portuguese Macao government initiated plans to transform UEA into a public university, with a view to training professionals and skilled workforce needed during the transition period leading up to the transfer of administration of Macao. By that time, UEA had expanded to include five colleges: University College, Polytechnic College, Junior College, Open College, and Graduate College.
In 1988, the Portuguese Macao government acquired UEA through the Macao Foundation, and started to restructure the university and revise its charter. This restructuring included the establishment of a governance structure consisting of a University Council, a Board of Advisers, and a Senate. The year 1989 marked significant expansions and reorganisations of the university. The School of Arts, School of Business Administration, and School of Social Sciences, which were previously part of the University College, became independent faculties. In addition, the Faculty of Science and Technology and the School of Education were established, along with new programmes in law and public administration. To promote academic research, a research committee was established under the Senate. In 1990, the university changed its bachelor’s degree programmes from a three-year to a four-year system. In 1991, the Faculty of Law was established. That same year, the University of East Asia was renamed the University of Macau, followed by the promulgation of the Charter of the University of Macau in 1992.
The mid-1990s marked a period of rapid development for UM. In 1997, the university’s undergraduate and master’s programmes gained recognition from the Ministry of Education of Portugal. New scholarships were introduced to attract outstanding students. UM also strengthened its ties with the Macao community. The university signed cooperation agreements with educational institutions, as well as public and private organisations in Macao to jointly develop academic programmes and research projects. By the time of Macao’s handover in 1999, UM had 2,865 full-time students, including 539 master’s and doctoral students.
In 1999, Macao returned to its motherland China, marking the beginning of a new era not only for the city, but also for UM. Having fulfilled its mission of training professionals for the transition period, UM entered a new development stage. The university expanded its academic offerings, upgraded its campus facilities, enhanced its faculty quality, and strengthened its research capacity. It also launched a series of bachelor’s and master’s programmes, reduced tuition fees, and provided scholarships for outstanding students and financial assistance for those in need. These initiatives led to a consistent improvement in student quality. Also in 1999, UM introduced the Recommended Direct Admission Scheme to allow outstanding local Form Six students to gain direct admission based on school recommendations. This scheme, which includes scholarship opportunities, is available to all local Form Six students with outstanding performance.
After Macao’s return to the motherland, the leadership of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government foresaw the unprecedented opportunities awaiting the city. The then chief executive and the secretary for social affairs and culture agreed that the government-led UM had fulfilled its historic missions. They shared the universal view that Macao needed a modern university that aligned with international standards—one that could not only meet the needs of residents but also inspire the local community to seize international opportunities and rise to future challenges. To achieve this vision, shortly after the handover of Macao, the Macao SAR Government encouraged UM to revise its charter. In 2001, UM restructured its University Council and appointed a chair. In 2002, the government approved the establishment of the UM Charter Revision Task Force, officially commencing the revision process. The government emphasised that the aim of the revision was to align UM with modern practices and international standards and to ensure that the university’s development could meet the future needs of Macao.
After years of discussion, consultation, and study, the Judicial Regime of the University of Macau was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Macao, and the chief executive promulgated the new Charter of the University of Macau in 2006. Under the new governance structure, the University Council serves as the highest governance organ to replace direct supervision from the government, which is in line with international practices. The greater autonomy, academic freedom, and administrative flexibility as a result of the 2006 Charter revision have combined to accelerate UM’s development in recent years and made it into a modern university.
The year 2009 was a pivotal year in UM’s development, as it was the year that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed a resolution to approve the establishment of a new campus on Hengqin Island in Guangdong Province and to authorise the Macao SAR to exercise jurisdiction over the campus in accordance with Macao SAR laws. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Hengqin campus was held on 20 December 2009. In addition, the central and the Macao SAR governments entrusted UM with a greater mission: to develop into a world-class university. The Hengqin campus was inaugurated in 2013, and UM completed its relocation and began holding all classes there in 2014.
Since relocating to the Hengqin campus, UM has seen consistent improvements in its student body and academic standards. The student population has grown from just over 8,000 in 2014 to more than 14,650 in 2024. The university has also made significant progress in diversifying and expanding its research initiatives, which has enhanced its global reputation. With the establishment of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin in 2021, UM has capitalised on new opportunities to expand its educational facilities. Through its commitment to high-quality and student-centred education, high-impact research, and outstanding community services, UM aspires to become an internationally recognised university of excellence.