Ten years ago, thanks to the strong support of the central and Macao SAR governments, as well as the dedication of staff and students, the University of Macau (UM) relocated from its original campus in Taipa to a new one on Hengqin Island, reaching a significant milestone. This new campus, twenty times the size of the old one, has allowed us to envision a future filled with possibilities and set sail towards new horizons.

Throughout the past decade, UM has grasped opportunities for growth and innovation. In this period, the university has refined its talent nurturing strategies, enhanced its key research initiatives, created community service platforms, and broadened its global connections, all while upgrading its campus facilities and environment. Over this time, UM’s educational scope and quality have significantly improved. The student population has surged from just over 8,000 to more than 13,500, accompanied by a remarkable increase in both the diversity and quantity of research undertakings, bolstering the university’s global reputation.

Throughout the past decade, UM, leveraging its strong foothold in Macao, has nurtured numerous citizens and innovators who love their home country, possess global perspectives and competitiveness as well as a strong sense of social responsibility. The university has also made every endeavour to jointly develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, integrate with national development, and go global. It has consistently expanded research and service activities, making significant contributions to the developmental goals of Macao, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the nation as a whole. These efforts have also contributed to the betterment of humanity.

A decade has passed. UM is now embracing change while seizing new opportunities. We are determined to capitalise on the new opportunities in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to extend our educational facilities. We will also keep up with the momentum and leverage the ‘one country, two systems’ policy to contribute to the economic diversification and sustainable development of Macao, thereby providing greater impetus into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As we look to the next decade, our commitment to fostering virtue and innovation remains resolute. Through quality student-centred education, key research subjects with international impact, and high-quality community services, UM strives to become an internationally recognised university of excellence.

With this unwavering conviction, let us steer towards a future filled with promise and potential!

 

Yonghua Song

  

Source: UMagazine Issue 29

All articles in the special issue dedicated to the 10th anniversary of UM’s relocation to Hengqin Island: