Today (20 July), the University of Macau’s (UM) new campus is officially handed over to Macao SAR. As of today the new campus will be governed by the laws of Macao SAR. Cheong U, secretary for social affairs and culture of Macao SAR, noted during his visit to the new campus that the new campus is a generous gift to Macao from the central government. He thanked the central government on behalf of the Macao SAR government for its support and said he hopes the various departments and UM colleagues can continue to work closely to ensure smooth relocation.
This morning, Cheong U, secretary for social affairs and culture of Macao SAR, and Lau Si Io, secretary for transport and public works of Macao SAR, made their first, historic entry into the new campus through the underwater tunnel to inspect the various facilities on the new campus. Also in the visiting group were Choi Lai Hang, director-general of the Macao Customs Service; Chan Chi Ping, director of the Government Information Bureau; Vong Iao Lek, acting president of the Administrative Council of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; Lei Siu Peng, commissioner of the Public Security Police Force; Ma Io Weng, commissioner of the Fire Services Bureau; Chiang Ngoc Vai, acting director of the Transport Bureau; Shin Chung Low Kam Hong, deputy director of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau; Tse Chi Wai, chair of the University Council of UM; several Standing Committee members of the University Council; Rector Wei Zhao; Vice Rectors Simon Ho, Rui Martins and Alex Lai; more than 20 faculty members and students; as well as other guests.
Cheong U noted that with the handover of the new campus, the size of Macao increased about one square kilometre. He said the new UM campus is a generous gift to Macao from the central government, and he expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Macao SAR government to the central government for its support for the development of higher education in Macao. Cheong U said that the construction of the new campus has been an important job for the SAR government, and the Guangdong government, Zhuhai government, Lau Si Io and his team, and UM members, worked diligently and closely to overcome numerous difficulties during the process of planning and construction, and finally built a beautiful and good-quality campus, which he believes will help UM to nurture more outstanding graduates to contribute to the sustainable development of Macao SAR. Cheong U added that after the handover of the new campus, UM will carry out a lot of follow-up works and prepare for the relocation in stages. He noted that the relocation is a complex project and he hopes the various departments and UM colleagues can continue to work closely to ensure smooth relocation in stages. He said he hopes the new campus can fully open to the public in next January or February, and when that happens, some of the facilities and resources on the new campus, including the University Hall, the Sports Complex and the Library, will also be shared with the Macao community.
Students and faculty members who participated in the visit felt very excited about entering the new campus on the commencement-of-use day. Dr. Greta Seng Peng Mok, assistant professor of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), said that the minute the bus entered the underwater tunnel she and her colleagues on the bus were so excited that they clasped hands together, because they felt that was truly a historic moment. She remarked that the buildings on the new campus looked very grand, combining the characteristics of Chinese and Portuguese architectures. She said such a beautiful campus would make teaching all the more enjoyable. She added that she hopes UM can achieve the goal of becoming a world-class university in the not-so-distant future. Katrine Cheong, a student from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSH), said before she needed to go through immigration clearance at Hengqin Border whenever she went on a visit to the new campus, but today she entered the new campus directly through the underwater tunnel, which finally made her feel that UM is indeed a university in and for Macao. She said she looks forward to moving to the new campus and living in a residential college so she could make friends with students from different parts of the world.
UM Rector Wei Zhao said that the new campus project has been a huge and complex one. He thanked the central government, the Macao SAR government, and Macao residents on behalf of UM for their great support. He also expressed gratitude to all the staff, engineers and construction workers for their hard work. Rector Wei Zhao said that after the handover, UM will gradually implement the relocation plan, and within the next several months a lot of follow-up works will be carried out, including quality inspection of the new campus buildings by the Macao SAR government in accordance with the relevant Macao laws, execution of the trial operation plan, and arranging for more than 2,000 students to move in to the new campus. Wei Zhao noted that after completion of all the follow-up works and the quality inspection by the Macao SAR government, UM will carry out full-scale relocation during the winter break.
The new campus covers an area of approximately one square kilometre, with more than 80 buildings. It is 20 times larger than the current campus, with the capacity to hold approximately 10,000 students. The new campus project has attracted a lot of attention both at home and abroad. Now with the handover of the new campus, UM will be better equipped to implement the “4-in-1” mode of education, which includes discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, and community and peer education. Environment plays an important role in education. The excellent environment of the new campus will allow UM to provide a multifaceted education to its students and nurture more outstanding graduates for society.
Should you have any enquiries about the information, please feel free to contact the Information Executives Ms Lei or Ms Fok at（853）8397 4325 or prs.media@um.edu.mo or visit UM webpage www.umac.mo.
This morning, Cheong U, secretary for social affairs and culture of Macao SAR, and Lau Si Io, secretary for transport and public works of Macao SAR, made their first, historic entry into the new campus through the underwater tunnel to inspect the various facilities on the new campus. Also in the visiting group were Choi Lai Hang, director-general of the Macao Customs Service; Chan Chi Ping, director of the Government Information Bureau; Vong Iao Lek, acting president of the Administrative Council of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; Lei Siu Peng, commissioner of the Public Security Police Force; Ma Io Weng, commissioner of the Fire Services Bureau; Chiang Ngoc Vai, acting director of the Transport Bureau; Shin Chung Low Kam Hong, deputy director of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau; Tse Chi Wai, chair of the University Council of UM; several Standing Committee members of the University Council; Rector Wei Zhao; Vice Rectors Simon Ho, Rui Martins and Alex Lai; more than 20 faculty members and students; as well as other guests.
Cheong U noted that with the handover of the new campus, the size of Macao increased about one square kilometre. He said the new UM campus is a generous gift to Macao from the central government, and he expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Macao SAR government to the central government for its support for the development of higher education in Macao. Cheong U said that the construction of the new campus has been an important job for the SAR government, and the Guangdong government, Zhuhai government, Lau Si Io and his team, and UM members, worked diligently and closely to overcome numerous difficulties during the process of planning and construction, and finally built a beautiful and good-quality campus, which he believes will help UM to nurture more outstanding graduates to contribute to the sustainable development of Macao SAR. Cheong U added that after the handover of the new campus, UM will carry out a lot of follow-up works and prepare for the relocation in stages. He noted that the relocation is a complex project and he hopes the various departments and UM colleagues can continue to work closely to ensure smooth relocation in stages. He said he hopes the new campus can fully open to the public in next January or February, and when that happens, some of the facilities and resources on the new campus, including the University Hall, the Sports Complex and the Library, will also be shared with the Macao community.
Students and faculty members who participated in the visit felt very excited about entering the new campus on the commencement-of-use day. Dr. Greta Seng Peng Mok, assistant professor of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), said that the minute the bus entered the underwater tunnel she and her colleagues on the bus were so excited that they clasped hands together, because they felt that was truly a historic moment. She remarked that the buildings on the new campus looked very grand, combining the characteristics of Chinese and Portuguese architectures. She said such a beautiful campus would make teaching all the more enjoyable. She added that she hopes UM can achieve the goal of becoming a world-class university in the not-so-distant future. Katrine Cheong, a student from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSH), said before she needed to go through immigration clearance at Hengqin Border whenever she went on a visit to the new campus, but today she entered the new campus directly through the underwater tunnel, which finally made her feel that UM is indeed a university in and for Macao. She said she looks forward to moving to the new campus and living in a residential college so she could make friends with students from different parts of the world.
UM Rector Wei Zhao said that the new campus project has been a huge and complex one. He thanked the central government, the Macao SAR government, and Macao residents on behalf of UM for their great support. He also expressed gratitude to all the staff, engineers and construction workers for their hard work. Rector Wei Zhao said that after the handover, UM will gradually implement the relocation plan, and within the next several months a lot of follow-up works will be carried out, including quality inspection of the new campus buildings by the Macao SAR government in accordance with the relevant Macao laws, execution of the trial operation plan, and arranging for more than 2,000 students to move in to the new campus. Wei Zhao noted that after completion of all the follow-up works and the quality inspection by the Macao SAR government, UM will carry out full-scale relocation during the winter break.
The new campus covers an area of approximately one square kilometre, with more than 80 buildings. It is 20 times larger than the current campus, with the capacity to hold approximately 10,000 students. The new campus project has attracted a lot of attention both at home and abroad. Now with the handover of the new campus, UM will be better equipped to implement the “4-in-1” mode of education, which includes discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, and community and peer education. Environment plays an important role in education. The excellent environment of the new campus will allow UM to provide a multifaceted education to its students and nurture more outstanding graduates for society.
Should you have any enquiries about the information, please feel free to contact the Information Executives Ms Lei or Ms Fok at（853）8397 4325 or prs.media@um.edu.mo or visit UM webpage www.umac.mo.
The visiting group enters the new campus on the commencement-of-use day
Entering the new campus via the underwater tunnel for the first time—a historic moment
Cheong U
Lau Si Io and leaders of the various departments in front of the new campus library
Cheong U
Lau Si Io and UM staff and students
Cheong U
secretary for social affairs and culture
UM Rector Wei Zhao