The University of Macau (UM) recently held an online inauguration ceremony for the eighth cohort of UM Reporters and the tenth cohort of PR Student Ambassadors (PRSA). The inauguration ceremony was held online to prevent mass gathering during the epidemic. According to the students, the programmes help them develop self-directed learning skills and problem-solving skills, which they believe are valuable assets whether they plan to pursue further studies or find a job after graduation. The top ten UM Reporters and the top ten PRSAs received certificates for their outstanding performance in the past year.
In his speech, UM Rector Yonghua Song encouraged the new cohort UM Reporters and PRSAs to cherish the opportunities provided by the two programmes. He advised the students not to limit learning to their chosen field of study and encouraged them to make friends with people from different backgrounds to enrich their university life. Rector Song is very pleased with the high rates of participation in the two programmes, especially considering that this year’s recruitment took place during the epidemic. Although most students have not been able to return to the campus yet, they have been very supportive to the university’s promotional campaigns. Katrina Cheong, director of UM’s Communications Office (CO), encouraged the students to use these two programmes as a platform to showcase their talent and gain practical experience in order to prepare themselves for entering the workforce after graduation.
A total of 84 students have joined the programmes this year. Lucia Li, a second-year student of English secondary education and a member of Chao Kuang Piu College, says that she has acquired practical writing skills and made many good friends from different departments through the UM Reporter Programme, adding that the programme also exposes her to a lot of new knowledge and experiences she would not have otherwise gained through mere classroom education. Becky Tang, a fourth-year student in the Department of Management and Marketing and a member of Lui Che Woo College, is a participant in the PRSA Programme. She says she has had many opportunities to talk to people from different backgrounds and countries while guiding campus tours, and those experiences have become part of her unforgettable memories during her last year at UM.
Launched by the CO in 2010 and 2012, respectively, the PRSA Programme and the UM Reporter Programme admit students from different backgrounds. Over the years, the programmes have not only trained many outstanding students with great potential in journalism, guiding services, and PR services; they have also fostered a greater sense of belonging among the students. The PRSA Programme focuses on guest reception skills, PR skills, interpersonal skills, and event organisation skills. So far, it has trained 413 PRSAs, who have received more than 73,000 visitors from around the world. The UM Reporter Progamme is targeted at students who are interested in developing interview skills, writing skills, and multimedia skills. So far, the programme has trained over 280 students.
Source: Communications Office
Media Contact Information:Communications Office, University of Macau
Albee Lei Tel：(853) 88228004Judite Lam Tel：(853) 88228022Email：prs.media@um.edu.moUM Website：www.um.edu.mo
