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| UM holds the Ceremony for Conferment of Honorary Degrees and Higher Degrees 2011 |
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| Renowned scientist Prof. Francisco J. Ayala receives the title of Doctor of Science honoris causa |
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| Renowned newspaper magnate Mr. Lei Seng Chon receives the title of Doctor of Humanities honoris causa |
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| Renowned educator Prof. Chia-Wei Woo receives the title of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa |
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| A lot of guests and UM staff and students attend the ceremony |
Today (5 November), the University of Macau (UM) held the Ceremony for Conferment of Honorary Degrees and Higher Degrees 2011. Chief Executive of Macao SAR and Chancellor of UM Dr. Chui Sai On conferred honorary doctorates upon three distinguished individuals, namely Prof. Francisco J. Ayala, Mr. Lei Seng Chon, and Prof. Chia-Wei Woo. Besides the honorary doctorates, PhD degrees, master degrees and postgraduate diplomas/certificates were also presented at the ceremony.
The ceremony took place at UM’s Cultural Centre. A lot of people attended the ceremony, including members of UM’s University Assembly and University Council, government officials, representatives from the education sector, community leaders, students’ parents and UM staff. In his speech, Dr. Chui Sai On said: “Since its foundation, the university has witnessed graduation of the students year after year. Besides, your faculty members and students have made contributions to the economic well-being and progress of the Macao community. They have also played a major role in the academic and social advancement. Indeed, as the university is blossoming into maturity at its 30th anniversary, it finds itself situated in a new landscape where opportunities and challenges equally abound. As such, it is the best time for the university to position itself for the mission of transforming into a world-class university. We feel encouraged by what the university has achieved and we trust that it will continue to go forward to meet a promising future.” He further added: “Our community and the government have always been supportive of the healthy and sustainable growth of the local higher education. Over the years, UM has morphed into an institution with well-developed disciplines under a sound system of education, research and management. And over the years, it has nurtured for the community many talents of knowledge and integrity. In order to help realize UM's goal of becoming a top university, the SAR government will be, as it has always been, supportive of UM for its adoption of the new 4-component-based pedagogical model which combines discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, and community and peer education.”
In his speech, Rector Wei Zhao said: “Everybody please remember this historic date of the Twentieth of December of Two Thousand and Nine: On that date, President Hu Jintao and Chief Executive Chui Sai On presided over the ground-breaking ceremony of our new campus on Hengqin. With that started the construction of our landmark new campus. But even more importantly, the date presented to us a rare opportunity of development. It is because on that occasion, President Hu expressed his high expectations of us to become a top university. His hopes meant so much to us and we are all working hard toward that goal.” He further added: “Our four honorary doctors made impressive achievements in initiating changes to the various fronts of Science and Technology, and society and culture. They did that with their professional knowledge and social influence. Their passion for the pursuit and their warmth all set them good role models of leadership for the community. Our 379 postgraduates here today, forget not our university motto of ‘humanity, integrity, propriety, wisdom and sincerity’ when you are serving your community. Let us also not forget the words of President Hu Jintao for us: ‘be patriotic and love Macao on the one hand, and be well-learned and upright on the other’. Our university motto guides our behaviour as a UM member while the words of President Hu goes further to define the way we ought to be as a person. We learn not only for our own sake, but even more importantly, we learn to feedback to our community and we learn to contribute to our nation.”
In his citation for Prof. Ayala, UM’s Vice Rector (Research) Prof. Rui Martins said: “Prof. Ayala is one of those rare individuals at the forefront of Science, dedicating his life to work and contributing greatly to humankind, by extending the frontiers of human knowledge. ” He also mentioned: “For the University of Macau, completing its first 30 years of existence, this is a significant moment in the development of the area of Biology, precisely, in the academic year where the teaching of Biological Sciences at undergraduate level starts. Then, the presence among us of such a distinguished and world-renowned scholar will certainly help to raise the awareness about the importance of this area among the local population and potential students.”
In his citation for Mr. Lei Seng Chon, UM’s Vice Rector (Administration) Dr. Alex Lai said: “Through the acts of establishing the Macao Daily News, running cultural and educational institutions, participating in the drafting of the Macao Basic Law, and dedicating himself to public functions and education, Mr. Lei incarnates perfectly the classical Chinese spirit of Sapientia et Virtus by learning well to serve. For more than half of the century, Mr. Lei Seng Chon has cut a titanic figure in the local fields of journalism and culture. In view of his outstanding ability and his distinguished contributions to our nation and to our community, he commands our highest respect.”
In his citation for Prof. Chia-Wei Woo, UM’s Vice Rector (Academic Affairs) Prof. Simon Ho said: “Prof. Woo is a world-renowned physicist and educator. His decades of unbending dedication to the promotion of Science and Technology, and the education for younger generation is a full realization of what an age-old epithet says: none serves people better than education. Prof. Ho also praised Prof. Woo’s remarkable contributions to Science and Technology and his great achievements in the education field, as well as his upright character.
In his speech, representative of the recipients of the honorary doctorates Prof. Chia-Wei Woo said: “History, geography, cultural ambience and economic opportunities have prepared Macao to rise as a unique Crossroads of Diversity. And The University of Macau, at age 30, has matured in grand style. With a dedicated and ever-improving faculty, diligent and highly motivated students, and a marvelous campus under construction, this university will provide numerous talents in diverse fields to help propel the region’s rapid rise. Macao is truly fortunate to have such a university.” He further added: “Education is not an expenditure, but an investment in its own future. And the university has given you a solid foundation for personal growth and professional development. You would undoubtedly wish to express your deepest gratitude to them all, and to commit to doing your very best to contribute to their well-being.”
Chan Weng Kin, representative of master graduates, said: “As you may well know, the University is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. And soon in the future, it will also be sitting on a brand new campus in Hengqin. All this signifies that our University is blasting off into a new educational realm. Whether or not we will have the luck to continue our PhD studies with UM and thus enable us to witness the historic event of the campus relocation, one thing is for sure: there will be a much better learning environment there. Not least are the residential colleges which will provide us with more opportunities of cultural exchanges and exposure to a holistic education. We really hope that the university on the new campus in the future will continue its education mission of talent nurturing for Macao and beyond.” Chan further added: “Graduation means conclusion, but it, more importantly, also signifies the commencement of the next stage of your learning journey. We will keep contributing ourselves to Macau and our Nation under the spirit of the UM’s motto of ‘humanity, integrity, propriety, wisdom and sincerity’. In doing so, I trust that our university will be proud of us in the same way we are proud to be its member.”
