The University of Macau (UM) today (16 August) held the convocation for the 2016/2017 academic year to welcome 1,500 new students. During the ceremony, Rector Wei Zhao delivered a speech, in which he expressed hope that the new students would make the most of their four years at UM. He also advised the students to make good use of UM’s great facilities and great professors and strive to meet high standards in academic pursuits and personal development.

Rector Zhao said that the convocation was a very special event because it witnessed the moment when the new students started a new chapter in their lives. He encouraged the students to live a moral life, be considerate of others, give back to society, and observe the five virtues listed in the university motto (Humanity, Integrity, Propriety, Wisdom, and Sincerity). Rector Zhao encouraged the students to take advantage of UM’s great facilities and great professors and strive to meet high standards in academic pursuits and personal development.

During the ceremony, new students each received a brooch inscribed with the number ‘2020’. The year 2020 will be the graduation year of the new cohort and 20/20 can also mean perfect vision. The gift symbolises the university’s expectations for the new students that they will have a clear vision for their future when they graduate from UM.

Ho Weng Fong, a freshman of Portuguese studies, thinks the university is a vibrant community with many new things for her to discover. She believes she will have a very fulfilling life on campus. Ho On In, another freshman of civil engineering, is excited about her four years at UM, and plans to study hard, actively participate in extracurricular activities, and make more friends.

Classes for the new academic year will begin on Monday 22 August. To help students adjust to their life on campus, UM is holding a series of orientation activities, including general briefing sessions, orientation sessions organised by the various faculties and residential colleges, and information sessions and parties. UM has also held information seminars for parents to help them learn more about the university’s educational philosophy and latest developments, so that they can help their children adapt to college life.