The University of Macau (UM) has its first PhD graduate in the area of Computer and Information Science. On 5 December 2005, Vong Chi Man, a lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), passed his oral defense, successfully, with his PhD thesis entitled “Integrated Machine Learning Techniques with Application to Adaptive Decision Support System for Automotive Engineering”. Before the defense, he has already published, in academic journals and conferences, various articles related to this topic.

Dr. Vong Chi Man was born in Macao. He got both his bachelor and master degrees from FST of UM. He is the first PhD, nurtured by UM, in the area of Computer and Information Science. In fact, FST has been producing several PhD graduates in various fields of Engineering. Vong Chi Man’s thesis is the 7th finished since year 2000.

The chairman of the examination committee of the above-mentioned oral defense is Professor Iu Vai Pan, Rector of UM. Other members include Professor Liu Jiming, Head of Department of Computer Science of Hong Kong Baptist University, Professor Nuno Guimarães, Dean of Faculty of Sciences of University of Lisbon, Professor Jie Huang, Department of Automation and Computer-Aided-Engineering of Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as internal members from FST, such as Professor Li Yiping, Dean and thesis supervisor, Professor Wong Pak Kin, co-supervisor, and Professor Han Ying Duo, Member of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Visiting Professor from Tsinghua University.