From around the world to Macao: The academic journeys of four international students

Walking around the University of Macau (UM) campus, you can meet many young people of different nationalities and hear greetings in different languages. Like the many students who have travelled from far and wide to study at UM, a group of international exchange students came to the university with a thirst for knowledge and a spirit of adventure to embark on their academic journey. They have now spent almost a year at UM, and let’s take a look at their fruitful experience.

Top study destination in Asia for exchange students from Portuguese-speaking countries

Bernardo Fonseca Maia is a control and automation engineering student at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil. Bernardo has long been fascinated by China. When he heard about an exchange programme to other Portuguese-speaking countries and regions, including Macao, in an email from his university, he saw it as a great opportunity to explore China, a mysterious country in the East for him. When he first arrived at UM, Bernardo was utterly impressed by the size and modern facilities of the UM campus. He says, ‘The campus is truly magnificent and beautiful and the university is incredibly advanced and technologically oriented. It houses three state key laboratories approved by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, and has an array of state-of-the-art research equipment. Although UM is located in Macao, China, it looks very much like universities in Western countries. When I first arrived at UM, I felt great, everything was clean and organised, and the students were friendly. It was so great.’

Jennifer Dorza Banze is an engineering student from Mozambique. UM was her first choice when she was choosing a destination for her overseas exchange studies. ‘I found out online that UM is a leading university in the field of engineering,’ Jennifer explains. UM is among the top 1% of the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) database in 15 fields, including engineering. ‘My sister also recommended UM. Asia, with its ongoing development, is an ideal destination to study engineering. While there were many options, UM truly stood out as the best choice for me,’ she adds.

Diverse curricula and profound friendships

A year of exchange studies has passed in the blink of an eye, yet leaving a lasting mark on the academic journeys of the exchange students. Thanks to UM’s unique education model, they have explored uncharted intellectual territories, and gained a lot from interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. Guillermina Reynose is an Argentinian student who studies international relations at Malmö University in Sweden. She was particularly struck by the differences between the curricula at UM and her university in Sweden when she first arrived here. Guillermina shares her experience, ‘I’m currently enrolled in the Government and Public Administration programme at UM. Here I have to take at least five courses in order to earn the same credits as I would at my university in Sweden. This also means that I am exposed to a wider range of knowledge fields. The courses I am taking this semester cover a wide range of topics and are informative.’

The exchange students have not only acquired a wealth of knowledge but have also formed meaningful friendships with their peers and teachers. The warmth and enthusiasm of UM members have always touched the hearts of the exchange students. Whether they need assistance with daily chores or their studies, UM members are always there to help, which has allowed the exchange students to quickly integrate into this welcoming family. Bernardo Fonseca Maia was particularly moved by the support he received from UM members. ‘Whenever I needed to buy something, they would eagerly show me various ways to do it. They introduced me to mobile apps that are commonly used in Macao. During the course enrolment period, both UM students and staff were more than willing to help,’ he shares. Through these everyday interactions, the exchange students have gradually formed deep friendships with their UM teachers and fellow students. These bonds will serve as some of their most cherished memories of their exchange experience.

Residential college: The second home

As the only university in Macao with a residential college system, UM invites international exchange students to reside in its residential colleges. Equipped with modern dormitories, fitness rooms, and kitchens, the residential colleges have become a home away from home for exchange students. Moreover, UM’s residential colleges provide comprehensive learning resources, including study rooms and meeting spaces, which greatly facilitate academic exchanges among students. As a result, the words ‘convenient’ and ‘comfortable’ are frequently used by students when describing their lives in the residential colleges.

Dimitri Mars, a Belgian-French exchange student who started his exchange studies at UM last year, developed such a fondness for Macao that he decided to continue his education at UM instead of returning home. He was particularly impressed by his residential college—Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College (MLC). At the orientation party organised by MLC during his first week, Dimitri made friends with a group of like-minded students. These friendships have deepened over the past year and helped him quickly integrate into the campus life at UM. ‘I love my college. It is vibrant and modern. There are a lot of activities organised for students, and there are many wonderful stories to tell,’ he shares.

It took Guillermina Reynos just a month to settle into life at UM. She speaks highly of the facilities in her residential college, Cheong Kun Lun College (CKLC). ‘There are three different workout spaces in my college, each designed for different types of exercise, including gymnastics and weightlifting. It is fantastic. I don’t need to go far to work out. Everything I need is right here,’ Guillermina shares. The fitness rooms not only help her stay active and recharge after studies, but also serve as spaces where she can discuss academic topics and share anecdotes with her peers and teachers. CKLC has given her a sense of warmth and belonging, even far from home.

UM has established partnerships with 110 institutions worldwide. The university invites students from these institutions to apply for semester- or year-long exchange programmes. At UM, students can immerse themselves in a dynamic campus culture and experience its international education model!