The University of Macau (UM) will confer honorary degrees on four distinguished individuals, namely Prof. Jiang Shusheng, Prof. Sérgio Machado dos Santos, Dr. Xue Hanqin, and Prof. Yu Kwang Chung, in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their areas of expertise as well as their contributions to UM’s development.

Chui Sai On, chancellor of UM and chief executive of Macao SAR, has approved the University Council’s proposal to confer the Doctor of Education honoris causa degree, the Doctor of Science honoris causa degree, the Doctor of Law honoris causa degree, and the Doctor of Letters honoris causa degree on Prof. Jiang Shusheng, Prof. Sérgio Machado dos Santos, Dr. Xue Hanqin, and Prof. Yu Kwang Chung respectively. The honorary degree conferment ceremony will be held on 7 December on UM’s new campus. Bachelor degrees and higher degrees will also be awarded at the ceremony. 

Prof. Jiang Shusheng is a world-renowned physicist. He was the vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress and the chairperson of the China Democratic League. He was the president of Nanjing University from 1997 to 2006. Under his leadership, Nanjing University made significant progress on various fronts including research, teaching, and internationalisation. Since 1985, he has undertaken many key research projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation and the Ministry of Education. He has received many honours and awards, including the second prize of the Scientific and Technological Progress Award from the Commission of Education (the predecessor of the Ministry of Education), the first prize of the Scientific and Technological Progress Award from the government of Jiangsu province, and the third prize of the State Natural Science Award; as well as the title of “Middle-Aged and Young Expert with Outstanding Contributions at National Level”. All his life Prof. Jiang has cared deeply about higher education and technological innovation. He has spared no effort in promoting academic exchanges and collaboration among higher education institutions in the four Chinese-speaking regions of mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao. In 2005, he initiated gatherings of university heads from the four Chinese-speaking regions to explore the way forward for higher education in the Chinese communities.

Prof. Sérgio Machado dos Santos is the former rector of the University of Minho, Portugal, and is now its honorary rector. As a university leader, Prof. Santos’s CV rolls out a long list of strong credentials for different aspects of higher education, not least his significant role in in the national accreditation of higher education. As the former president of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP) in the mid-1990s, and as the person in charge of the accreditation and recognition of UM’s programmes by the Portuguese Ministry of Education, Prof. Santos made significant contributions to UM’s gaining international recognition. These programmes of UM were also subsequently recognised by the European Union. Prof. Santos has also played an important role in making UM, then a Portuguese public university, into a CRUP member. It was because of Prof. Santos that UM successfully made the crucial step, which has greatly benefitted UM’s graduates seeking further development in Portugal, the European Union, and elsewhere. Prof. Santos is Membro Conselheiro (advisor-member) of the Portuguese Engineers Professional Association (Ordem dos Engenheiros) and has been awarded several honorific titles of distinction, including the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of UNIVALI, Brazil, and the insignias of Grã-Cruz da Ordem de Instrução Pública (1995) and Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Infante (2002) by the president of the Portuguese Republic. His current research work mainly focuses on higher education policies, particularly quality assurance.

Dr. Xue Hanqin was a senior Chinese diplomat and is the first Chinese woman to be appointed judge of the International Court of Justice. She is currently a guest professor in the School of Law at Wuhan University. Apart from having rich experience in diplomacy and international law, she also actively promotes legal education and research in China through academic publications. In June 2010, she became the first Chinese female judge and the second female judge of the International Court of Justice. Her appointment not only enhanced the status of China in international legal affairs, but also brought fresh impetus to the International Court of Justice and international law. She has published numerous works and articles on international law in Chinese and English, garnering widespread accolades. Because of her achievements in this field, she was elected member of the Institut de droit international. She advocates resolving international disputes through peaceful means and cooperation. She has made outstanding contributions in the areas of international judiciary, diplomacy and legal research.

Prof. Yu Kwang Chung is a literary master who enjoys great renown in the Chinese communities, especially for his modern poetry and prose. In addition to being a prolific writer, he is also a well-known translator with impressive mastery of several languages, including English, German, and Spanish. In his literary career spanning over 40 years, Prof. Yu has published many original and translated works. He has received numerous prestigious prizes and honours, including the Wu San-lien Award in prose, and the Best Book of the Year Award from the United Daily News of Taiwan (he has received this award four times). Because of his outstanding contributions in literature, UM’s Department of Chinese in 2007 invited Prof. Yu to give a talk entitled “Poetry and Music”. Prof. Yu was awarded honorary doctorates by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Chengchi University, Taiwan, in 2003 and 2008 respectively.



Should you have any enquiries about the press release, please feel free to contact Ms. Albee Lei or Ms. Kristy Fok at(853)8397 4325 or prs.media@um.edu.mo or visit UM webpage www.umac.mo.