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| Attendees of the UA/UC joint meeting put forward suggestions for the future development of UM |
The joint meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and the University Council (UC) of the University of Macau (UM) for the 2010/2011 academic year was held on 13 April. Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Chancellor of UM, and Chair of UA Dr. Chui Sai On said at the meeting that over the past thirty years UM has been developing steadily and has attained some impressive achievements, and that the SAR government will continue to provide policy- and resource-wise support to ensure that UM can systematically progress towards the goal of becoming a world-class university.
This year’s joint meeting was presided over by UM Chancellor Dr. Chui Sai On and attended by UA and UC members comprised of community leaders, UM’s top management, alumni and student representatives. During the meeting attendees put forward suggestions for the future development of the university. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Mr. Cheong U, Chief of the Office of the Chief Executive Dr. Tam Chon Weng, and Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Ms. Tam Ka Wa also attended the meeting as nonvoting delegates.
In his speech, Dr. Chui Sai On said: “Over the past three decades, the University of Macau has been developing steadily and has attained some impressive achievements. Through many years of efforts, UM has produced many outstanding graduates for Macao. UM hasn’t failed people’s expectations. In response to the changing needs of the time, it has promptly improved itself in both software and hardware respects. It has launched a series of reform initiatives, including establishing two state key laboratories, introducing the residential college system, implementing general education courses, founding Macao’s first Honours College, and formulating a new “4-in-1” education model. I hope that the new education model and various other reform initiatives will combine to help UM to keep pace with the times and truly become a world-class university with regional characteristics.”
Dr. Chui Sai On further noted: “In recent years Macao has been developing rapidly, and the resulting changes have brought many new challenges for the local education sector. The construction of the main buildings for the new UM campus officially began last November. I hope that during the less than two years’ time ahead of us, UM can exert its best efforts to complete the new campus with high quality and on schedule to provide the best possible academic environment for staff and students. I also hope that UM can make thorough preparation for the relocation. The Macao SAR government will continue to provide policy- and resource-wise support to ensure that the university can progress towards the goal of becoming a world-class university in a steady, systematic manner.”
Following Dr. Chui’s speech, UM Rector Wei Zhao reported UM’s recent achievements in teaching, research and management. He said: “As the best university in the region, UM should shoulder the responsibility of nurturing qualified graduates for the local community. Recently UM has begun to prepare for the establishment of new faculties and new academic programmes. We are also stepping up efforts in a number of fundamental academic disciplines, such as Chinese, Portuguese, English and Mathematics. Moreover, we are now vigorously reforming the curriculum system in order to realize around-the-clock education and help students acquire knowledge of different realms, be more innovative, open-minded, and become not only specialists but also generalists. In the 2010/2011 academic year we began to implement on a trial basis the residential college system and part of the general education courses. A new general education curriculum will be fully implemented in the 2011/2012 academic year. This will further improve the curriculum structure at UM, and will enable our students to master knowledge of different disciplines during the four years.”
Rector Wei Zhao also reported the preliminary plan for relocation to the new campus. He said during the next two years UM will follow the government’s instruction and ensure that the construction of the new campus is completed with high quality and on schedule. He said UM members will make thorough preparation for the relocation. He pledged that UM will earnestly implement the established long-term development strategies and continue to enhance the international management system, reward academic excellence, and create first-rate conditions and environment in both software and hardware respects, to ensure that UM can ascend the international stage and nurture more outstanding graduates for Macao.
The following people attended the joint meeting: Chui Sai On, Lei Pang Chu, Lam Kam Seng, Siu Yin Wai, Zhou Ligao, Antonio Ferreira, Maria Edith da Silva, Susana Chou, José F. Pereira Chan, Leong Vai Tac, Ho Iat Seng, Wong Chi Seng, Wong King Keung, Lao Ngai Leong, Kong Tat Choi, Wong Chong Fat, Vitor Ng, Tong Chi Kin, Kou Kam Fai, Chui Sai Peng, Au Chong Kit, Vong Hin Fai, Yeung Tsun Man, Leong Lai, Sou Chio Fai, Iao Man Leng, Tse Chi Wai, Wei Zhao, Simon Ho, Rui Martins, Alex Lai, Philip Chen, Jacky So, Xu Jie, Kot Man Kam, Ao Peng Kong, Huang Xiaoqi, and Huang Chengbin.
