Secretary Alexis Tam officiates M.U.S.T. Congregation 2019
Encourage Students to Seize National Development Opportunities
Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) held the 2019 Congregation at the University’s indoor gymnasium on the afternoon of June 8, 2019. Dr. Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. officiated the ceremony. Other guests attending the ceremony include Mr. Sun Da, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R., Ms. Shen Beili, Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao S.A.R., Mr. Chang Kun Hong, Deputy Director of the Higher Education Bureau, Chairman Chui Sai Cheong of the Board of Trustees of the M.U.S.T. Foundation, Dr. Liu Chak Wan, Chancellor of M.U.S.T.; Professor Zhou Li Gao, Chairman of the University Council, Dr. Tong Chi Kin, Chairman of the Advisory Board of M.U.S.T., members of the M.U.S.T. Foundation, the University Council and the Advisory Board, officials of local governmental departments, representatives from major enterprises, scholarship patrons, internship institutions, local higher institutions and secondary schools, parents and friends, and faculty members. This year, a total of 2,800 students from the University’s faculties and institutes, including bachelors, masters and doctors, graduated from the University. The University also held the first Flag Raising Ceremony for the Congregation at 9am on the same day.
President Liu Liang addressed the Congregation, where he noted that over the past nineteen years M.U.S.T. has been committed to its motto, “Dedication to practical studies, enhancement of knowledge, ability and quality”. The University exercised fully its core values, “Multicultural, Universally connected, Socially responsible, Transformative”, maintained the great strengths of traditional disciplines while seeking explorations and advancements, and steered the University out of Macao into the international community. The University established its second state key laboratory, “The State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences”, and was approved to offer Macao’s first “Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery” program, and entered the top 1% of the engineering field among universities and research institutes across the world in the relevant area. Such abundant yields rely on the joint efforts of the university teachers and students, and enable the University to shine in the world stage. M.U.S.T. continued to stand in line with the national development and the S.A.R. Government, carried out an all-round implementation of President Xi’s important instructions, cultivated patriotic talents for Macao and for the nation, and made contributions to the development of higher education and science and technology in Macao.
President Liu Liang called for the graduates to reinforce the belief that “Being young means to make progress”, and noted that being young means to have a bare heart full of vitality and curiosity, being young means the mind remains open, as it is eager for progress and learning every day, being young means to grow quick-witted and broad-minded day by day, and the ultimate weapon to enable the mind to stay young is to seek lifelong learning. The President reminded the students that on their road to fulfill their youth, the end of campus learning meant only the beginning of lifetime learning, and hoped that the students would keep on learning so as to prepare well for a wonderful future.
Chairman Zhou Li Gao also delivered a speech. In the past year, the University continued to grow steadfast. The teaching quality strode gradually to excellence and high-standard high-quality research outcomes reached new heights. In the meantime, impressive achievements have also been made in teaching and learning, scientific research and social services, in developing faculty and management teams, as well as in campus planning and construction. This has earned the University greater recognition from the social communities. The chairman welcomed the graduates to come back to visit the University regularly to share their new achievements at work and assured the students that the University would always care about their development and well-being. Finally, the chairman expressed hopes that in the face of another new challenge, the students would need to double their efforts, try hard to make innovations, embrace challenges, and utilize the knowledge and skills they gained at university to make new accomplishments and create a bright future.
Dr. Alexis Tam Chon Weng also gave a speech at the Congregation, emphasizing that M.U.S.T. has become a prominent university in furthering higher education and innovative science and technology development in Macao. The University has been standing closely with the S.A.R. Government, and reinforcing the policies of “Prospering Macao through education” and “Building Macao by fostering talents”. M.U.S.T. has been upholding its mission, devoted to develop high-quality education and extraordinary research, and won the 1st prize at the 2018 National Ministry of Education Natural Sciences Awards. Dr. Tam further remarked that the students were facing a new era featuring unprecedented historic opportunities and developing prospects; the “Belt and Road” initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have made available a great demand for excellent talents, which has provided a stage for the students to seek brand new careers, exert their talents and fulfil their dreams. Dr. Tam encouraged the graduates to accompany their new starting point in life with an ambitious heart, take in hand the historic opportunities, dare to work hard, aspire for greater heights, and make contributions for the development of the nation and the prosperity of Macao. In the end, Dr. Tam expressed wishes for the graduates to have a bright future and fly high.
Student representatives, Wang Qiu, Doctorate graduate from the Faculty of Information Technology, and Cheng Bowen, Bachelor graduate from the University International College spoke on behalf of the graduates in Mandarin and English. They shared their feelings on studying at M.U.S.T., saying that here they’ve grown, sought self-exploration, and identified new orientations. Such experiences have enabled them to make changes, enrich their souls, and have the confidence to embrace an even brighter future.
