The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) at the University of Macau (UM) held a student orientation event for the fifth cohort of its Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) programme. This year’s cohort comprises 31 students, including senior administrators from various sectors in Macao, as well as professionals, business leaders, and civil servants from the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Hu Weixing, dean of FSS, said that the DPA programme meets the growing demand for high-calibre public administration professionals and fills a gap in the market. The programme is practice-oriented, emphasises the integration of theory and practice, and aims to cultivate students’ problem-solving and innovation skills. This year’s cohort of students come from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and it is believed that they will support the region’s further development upon graduation. As with previous cohorts, classes are held on weekends to accommodate working individuals, providing them with a platform for professional development to better serve the society.

In addition, representatives from the first to fourth cohorts—Zhang Xinyu, Shen Guobin, Liu Yuxi, and Sun Tao—shared their experiences and insights from the programme. They encouraged new students to immerse themselves in the academic environment and embrace the vibrant campus life at UM. Those attending the orientation included Cai Tianji, associate dean of FSS; Wen Bo, assistant dean of FSS and programme director of DPA; and Wu Yonghong, head of the Department of Government and Public Administration.

As the first Chinese-language DPA programme in Greater China, UM’s DPA programme is committed to cultivating public administration professionals with a solid theoretical foundation and excellent practical skills. The programme teaches cutting-edge public administration theories and features a variety of seminars and field visits to broaden students’ international perspectives and enhance their innovative capabilities, thereby nurturing outstanding administrators who can support regional development and contribute to the development of the Greater Bay Area and the country.