As the festive season of Chinese New Year approaches, the campus of the University of Macau (UM) comes alive with vibrant decorations—red couplets, gold-embossed spring festival banners, and colourful paintings. Faculty and students are bustling with preparations to bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon. Among them are many non-local faculty members who hold a deep appreciation of Chinese culture.
In this issue of My UM, we interview three professors from abroad to ask how they see Macao and the university as their second home. They share their experiences celebrating the Chinese New Year and discuss their plans for the Year of the Snake.
Putting down roots in Macao
On the desk of Prof Nevia Dolcini from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) sits her university ten-year service award. Recalling her arrival in Macao from Italy in 2010, she says, ‘I can hardly believe that in the blink of an eye, I have settled in Macao and have been teaching at UM for 15 years. I am so grateful to be part of UM and to have witnessed its rapid development over the years.’
Dolcini is now an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and a senior fellow at Moon Chun Memorial College. Reflecting on her life in Macao, Prof Dolcini says with a smile, ‘My kids were born in Rome but have spent their whole lives in Macao’. She speaks warmly of the city as a nurturing environment, where her family has thrived in a diverse and dynamic community.
‘We are very much looking forward to the Chinese New Year,’ she says. ‘The streets of Macao are filled with festive decorations, creating a lively atmosphere. My children especially love wearing traditional Chinese clothing during the celebrations, and the dragon and lion dances are my favourite New Year performances.’
‘Three, two, one—Happy New Year!’ Prof Dolcini, embracing local traditions, quietly makes wishes on New Year’s Eve, hoping they will come true in the coming year. ‘Once you share a wish, it won’t come true,’ she laughs, keeping her hopes close to her heart. Yet, through casual conversation, hints of her aspirations emerge.
As a member of the Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Prof Dolcini collaborates closely with colleagues who use the university’s advanced equipment for interdisciplinary research. Last year, she organised a large international academic conference on cognition, which brought together philosophers from around the world to share their research at UM.
‘All the sweat leads to rewards, and every effort is worthwhile,’ she believes. This sentiment resonates with all UM scholars, and she wishes UM researchers the best of luck in the New Year.
Bridging the gap with students
Prof Nevia Dolcini not only enjoys research, but she is also passionate about nurturing students. Her name is inscribed on the wall of the FAH learning common in recognition of her outstanding contribution to teaching. Since becoming a senior fellow at Moon Chun Memorial College, Prof Dolcini has effectively utilised the residential college system of whole-person education.
Prof Dolcini often dines with students in the college, sharing warm and joyful moments together. She also dedicates time to philosophical discussions with her students, encouraging them to think critically and enrich their intellectual horizons by engaging with fundamental questions.
‘The dining hall is a great place to foster interaction between teachers and students,’ says Prof Dolcini. Her naturally curly brown hair makes her stand out even more in the hall. She enjoys showcasing her culinary skills, teaching students how to prepare traditional Italian dishes. In return, the students share their own traditional recipes, creating a rich tapestry of culinary culture.
By cooking together, students and faculty not only bond over food but also deepen their understanding of each other’s backgrounds. This exchange of culinary traditions helps strengthen relationships and rapport between professors and students, enriching the college experience.
Supporting charitable initiatives
Last month, the annual charity event ‘Walk for a Million’ took place in Macao, and many foreign UM faculty families participated, demonstrating their spirit of kindness and joy. Among them was Inácio Bó, associate professor in the Department of Economics, who joined with his wife and nine-year-old son. This hands-on involvement not only supported the charitable cause but also expanded their community engagement and deepened their understanding of Macao.
Prof Bó, who holds a PhD in economics from Boston College in the United States, previously taught at the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Sichuan. In 2023, he seized the opportunity to join UM, and moved his family to Macao, which he describes as a place with a culture similar to his homeland Brazil, and a local language with which they can easily communicate.
Prof Bó is happy with his decision to move to Macao. With UM’s growing international influence, he has found greater opportunities for academic development. Additionally, Portuguese, one of Macao’s official languages, has made it easier for him to integrate into the social fabric of the city.
Prof Bó highlights that Macao, as an international city, allows him to ‘be himself’ and experience a sense of normalcy. This welcoming environment has allowed him to connect more deeply with the local culture and community, further enriching his family’s experience in their new home.
A different Chinese New Year
Since marrying his Chinese wife, Prof Bó has developed a deep affection for Chinese New Year celebrations. His first experience of the festive atmosphere came after their wedding, when he accompanied his wife to her family’s home for the holiday. Bó and his wife met in 2010 while he was pursuing his PhD at Boston College, and they tied the knot in 2012.
‘My wife is from a small village in Hubei, where the Spring Festival is the biggest celebration of the year,’ he says. ‘Every household is decorated with couplets, and the sound of firecrackers fills the air. Children play and chase each other outside, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere!’ This vibrant scene resonated with Prof Bó, and ‘returning home for the New Year’ has since become a cherished tradition in their family.
This year, Prof Bó will make an exception to the family tradition, as he will go to Brazil for important meetings and will not be able to accompany his wife and son to their hometown for the Chinese New Year. During the Spring Festival, he will meet with Brazil government authorities to discuss the implementation of a new educational initiative aimed at making university admission processes more equitable.
This initiative is based on his previous research, which applies market theories from economics to create a fairer university admission system. It is a departure from his usual celebrations, but Prof Bó is committed to ensuring that future students have a fairer chance at higher education.
Prof Bó reflects, ‘Although I am sacrificing time with my family, it is a scholar’s responsibility to give back to society. I hope that this initiative can be applied in more countries and regions in the future, contributing to a wider equity in education.’
A father-figure in the laboratory
Every morning, Prof Shen Hanming walks from the staff quarters at the southern end of the UM campus to the university’s research base at the northern end. Along the way, he uses his smartphone to capture the moments when the morning light floods the campus, and shares the images on WeChat so that his friends can also experience the serene campus beauty.
A leading figure in medical science, Prof Shen previously taught at the National University of Singapore for over 20 years. He joined UM five years ago as a chair professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences. In 2025, he will see the graduation of the second batch of five doctoral students he mentored at UM, and he will bid farewell to his students with a heavy heart. This milestone marks not only academic success but also a significant emotional moment in his role as a mentor.
Prof Shen dedicates himself to academia, spending countless hours mentoring students and conducting research. He admits that the time he spends with his students often exceeds the time he spends with his own family. He regards each student as his own child, and provides them with fatherly guidance in the laboratory.
In his eyes, the laboratory is like a big family where everyone experiences the ups and downs of research together, and supports one another along the way. He says, ‘My research team is like a family; we share the joys and challenges of our scientific journey, and lift each other up as we progress together.’ This sense of community fosters not only academic growth but also deep, meaningful connections among the students.
New year, new responsibilities
In the new year, Prof Shen is not only committed to advancing research projects and nurturing high-calibre talents but has also taken on an important role in assisting UM with the construction of a new medical school in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
On the day of My UM’s interview, Prof Shen was busy holding a series of meetings with colleagues to discuss the development of a curriculum for a new medical programme. This new responsibility adds to his already busy schedule, but he is determined to ensure that the new medical school meets the highest standards of excellence in education and research.
Establishing a new faculty is a complex and challenging task, but Prof Shen sees it as an opportunity to contribute to the development of Macao’s healthcare and higher education. He is eager for the new faculty to produce outstanding healthcare professionals, ultimately raising the level of medical services in the territory.
Welcoming the Year of the Snake
As the Chinese New Year approaches, the vibrant UM campus is filled with festive cheer, symbolising new beginnings. Faculty and staff prepare to welcome spring by adorning the college entrances with bright red couplets and the courtyards with various festive ornaments, all embodying the auspicious wishes for the Year of the Snake.
Our college masters will gather with students who remain on campus to celebrate the reunion dinner, engaging in traditional activities such as preparing special dishes and writing spring couplets. This celebration brings a rich atmosphere of Chinese New Year customs.
These three professors share their hopes for the Year of the Snake: prosperity and stability for Macao, health and happiness for all faculty and students, and breakthroughs in the quest for knowledge. Their heartfelt wishes encapsulate a collective aspiration for growth and success in the coming year.
Text: Kelvin U, UM Reporter He Yanlin and Loi Sze Ying
Editor: Gigi Fan
English translation: Winky Kuan
Photos: Kelvin U, with some provided by interviewees 
Source: My UM Issue 140