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| The launching ceremony signifies the official start of the celebration for the 30th anniversary of UM |
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| Several local singers sing the theme song created by some UM alumni for the 30th anniversary |
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| Dr. Chui Sai On and numerous other guests “time travel” via the “Time Tunnel” |
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| Students inquire about admission information |
The University of Macau (UM) kicked off celebration for its 30th anniversary with a launching ceremony on 19 Feb, the same day when the “UM Open Day” begun. The theme for this year’s anniversary is “Three decades, a fruitful journey; UM’s future, let’s build it in unity.” Various celebratory, academic and student activities will be held later this year.
Chancellor of UM and Chief Executive of Macao SAR Dr. Chui Sai On, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao SAR Mr. Chan Kai Meng, Mr. Lu Shumin from the Office of Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Macao SAR, Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao SAR Mr. Liu Xiaohang, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Mr. Cheong U, UM’s University Council Chair Dr. Tse Chi Wai, UM Rector Wei Zhao, and UM alumni representative Dr. Anthony Lau attended the launching ceremony.
In his speech, Rector Wei Zhao thanked Dr. Wong King Keung, Dr. Edward P.H. Woo and Dr. Peter Y.L. Eng for founding UM for the benefit of local Chinese students. He said that UM has developed into a comprehensive university with increasing degree of internationalization and it is committed to high-quality education, research and community services for Macao and the world. Wei Zhao remarked that at present more than 90% of the Chinese judges, prosecutors and attorneys working in Macao are graduates from UM’s Faculty of Law. He added that during the past decade, an annual average of approximately 80% of graduates from UM’s Faculty of Education found careers in local kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools.
Indeed, many UM graduates have become well-known entrepreneurs, social activists, scientific researchers, university professors, media practitioners, translators, managers, Chinese medical researchers and government officials, making remarkable contributions to the development and progress of society. In the future UM will continue to enhance education, push ahead the construction of the new campus, and progress systematically towards the goal of becoming a first-class university.
In his speech, Dr. Chui Sai On said that over the past three decades UM has made important efforts and contributions to the prosperity, progress and the enhanced quality of Macao society by producing more than 10,000 graduates with expertise in various fields. He added that the SAR government will continue to support the university—and the development of higher education in Macao at large— policy- and resource-wise. He promised that the government will increase input in higher education, especially in terms of excellent teachers and advanced research facilities, so as to advance the development of teaching, research and community service of higher education institutions, realize the further optimization of the entire human resource development system. He also mentioned the new UM campus. He said that the new campus will be completed by the end of 2012, and that the government will continue to push forward the construction of the new campus and strive to create a new campus with a rich academic atmosphere so that UM can have a better environment to attain more educational and academic achievements and realize the goal of becoming a world-class university in a systematic manner.
During the launching ceremony, several guests were invited to each lay a brick on the top of a model foundation to signify the official start of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of UM. This gesture conveys the hope that the university and the community can work together to build a brighter future. A theme song specially produced for the 30th anniversary was performed for the first time by several local singers, adding to the warm atmosphere. After the song, Dr. Chui Sai On and numerous guests participated in the various activities for the “UM Open Day”, including the “Time Tunnel” which tells of UM’s major milestones over the past three decades.
Many graduating senior high school students and their parents also participated in the various activities for the Open Day. The campus was swarming with people and bustling with activities. One of the major celebratory activities for the 30th anniversary, the “UM Open Day” kicked off on 19 Feb and will last two days. Activities for 20 Feb will last from 10:30 to 17:00 and will include a talk on bursaries for post-secondary students granted by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of Macao SAR, a talk on UM’s scholarships for undergraduate students, presentations by various faculties, moot court, open speeches, and student performances such as Chinese and western musical instruments playing, magic show, martial arts and fencing demonstration.
