The University of Macau (UM) recently held the Joint Meeting of the University Assembly (UA) and University Council (UC) for the 2014/2015 academic year in its Ho Yin Conference Hall. Dr Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR, chancellor of UM, and chair of the UA, presided over the meeting. Dr Chui said he is pleased to see that in recent years UM not only has fostered a good reputation and increasing academic influence in society, but has continued to produce outstanding graduates for Macao.

At the meeting, Chui first thanked UA and UC members for their contributions over the years. He said the university’s achievements are not easy to accomplish and are a result of the joint efforts of everyone. Dr Chui said that the initiatives UM has adopted in recent years, including its efforts to strengthen academic programmes, internationally recruit outstanding scholars, carry out curriculum reform, and optimise the administrative and management process, has put the university on the right track. He hopes that while continuing to improve its quality of teaching and research, UM will encourage its faculty members and students to serve the local community, promote the sustainable socio-economic development of Macao, and enhance the city’s international status.

UC Chair Dr Lam Kam Seng reported UM’s developments after its relocation to the new campus. He thanked all faculty members, staff, and students, the various government departments, and the community for their support, saying that thanks to the joint efforts of all the parties concerned, nearly 10,000 UM students and staff members were able to successfully complete their relocation to the new campus. Dr Lam said that the UC will continue to support the development of UM, optimise its mode of governance, and continue with administrative reforms. The UC will also do its best to create an environment that is conducive to academic research and teaching enhancement, assist the university in developing key research areas, enrich the residential college system, continuously improve the quality of the faculty team, strengthen its connections with the community, and promote communication between internal and external stakeholders. He noted that next year will mark the 35th anniversary of UM, and all UM members will continue to pursue excellence under the principle of ‘Love your country, love Macao, learn extensively, and practice earnestly’, in order to develop UM into an internationally recognised outstanding university.

UM Rector Wei Zhao presented development strategies for the university and reported the university’s progress in the past year, including the marked increase in the quality and quantity of papers, community service programmes, and research awards received in Macao and mainland China. Rector Zhao said that the university considers it its mission to help young people discover themselves in society. Therefore, the university will place a greater emphasis on helping students achieve well-rounded development. It will strengthen the ‘4-in-1’ model of education (which consists of discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, and community and peer education), and promote the development of classic and innovative academic infrastructure and cross-disciplinary education and research. It will also improve its management system and continue to operate according to the government’s policies and laws, consolidate teaching and research achievements, strengthen community services, recruit the best people, and accelerate the localisation of talent. On the academic front, UM will continue to step up efforts in key research areas, including health sciences, applied physics and materials engineering, and computer and information sciences.

The UA and the UC consist of prominent members of the community, UM’s management, and representatives of faculty members, students, and alumni. The following people attended this year’s UAUC Joint Meeting: Chui Sai On, Lam Kam Seng, Wong Chong Fat, Lau Veng Lin, Ng Fok, Vitor Ng, Siu Yin Wai, Zhou Ligao, Maria Edith da Silva, Ma Iao Lai, Susana Chou, Joaquim Jorge Perestrelo Neto Valente, Liu Chung Laung, Lao Ngai Leong, D José Lai, Kong Tat Choi, Anabela Fátima Xavier Sales Ritchie, Tong Chi Kin, Ma Chi Ngai, Kou Kam Fai, Au Chong Kit, Leong Heng Teng, Vong Hin Fai, Huen Wing Ming, Lai Ieng Kit, Sou Chio Fai, Leong Lai, Wei Zhao, Lionel Ni, Rui Martins, Alex Lai, Fan Xitao, Chuxia Deng, Xu Jie, Rose Lai, Ao Peng Kong, Kot Man Kam, and UA Secretary and UC Secretary General Wendy Chan. Those who sat in on the meeting include Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Tam Chon Weng and Advisor to the UC Tse Chi Wai.