The opening ceremony of the second cycle of the Master of Physical Education programme, which is jointly organised by the Shanghai University of Sport and Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI), was held at MPI in the afternoon of 22 September. The ceremony was officiated by Professor Im Sio Kei, Vice President of MPI and Professor Zhao Xiaohan, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Physical Education and Sport Training, Shanghai University of Sport (SUS). The officiating guests encouraged new students to work hard in their studies, thereby advancing the research in sport sciences and becoming high-calibre professionals who can contribute to the society with their application-based knowledge in this field.
Professor Zhao Xiaohan, Secretary of the Party Committee of SUS’s School of Physical Education and Sport Training, announced that the University has just been included in the first tier of universities for China’s new ‘Double First-rate’ policy initiative of developing world-class universities. According to Professor Zhao, this joint master’s programme in Physical Education is an important project between SUS and MPI. In offering this programme, MPI provides superb teaching facilities while SUS ensures the provision of educational resources. Operating on a ‘double tutor’ system, the teaching process is supervised by both schools to nurture well-qualified sports professionals who possess a Master’s degree. This collaboration will also promote the internationalisation of sports education at the graduate level, at the same time as it helps to enhance the international profile and educational capabilities of both institutions. Professor Zhao expressed her hopes for students to: (1) make good use of this educational opportunity and focus on their studies; (2) nurture their innovativeness using their solid professional knowledge gained by learning the latest developments in the academic field and (3) maintain a good balance between their work and studies and keep in close contact with their tutors.
Dr. Ng San Fan, Acting Director of MPI’s School of Physical Education and Sports, noted that MPI has been contributing a great deal to cultivate competent professionals for Macao. Offering this joint Master’s degree in Physical Education in collaboration with SUS, a renowned sports institution in the Chinese Mainland, marks a new era in nurturing local sports professionals. Dr. Ng encouraged students to grasp this opportunity, study hard and gain specialised knowledge while enhancing their practical capabilities. They should dedicate their efforts towards the sports and education sectors in Macao. He also wished for all teachers and students to have a fruitful academic year, and that all graduate students would do their very best to complete their studies.
The Master of Physical Education is designed to provide theoretical and practical knowledge in related fields. With an emphasis on the application of theoretical concepts, this programme aims to equip students so that they will become application-based professionals capable of doing research in sports, in addition to achieving moral, intellectual, physical and aesthetic developments. Classes are being held at MPI.
