M.U.S.T. Opening Ceremony
Welcomes 3,000 new students
Confers Honorary Doctoral Degree to Nobel Laureate

From left: Dr. Liu Chak Wan, Director Xu Ting, Professor Martin Chalfie, Dr. Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Director Zheng Xinyou and President Liu Liang

Macau University of Science and Technology held the 2018/2019 Opening Ceremony and Ceremony for Conferment of Honorary Doctoral Degrees in Block J at 11am on September 8, 2018. Dr. Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R., officiated the ceremony and conferred Honorary Doctor of Science upon Professor Martin Chalfie, renowned professor of biology and winner of Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008. This year, M.U.S.T. admitted more than 2,000 new undergraduates and 1,300 new graduate students. The University also held the first Flag Raising Ceremony for the new academic year at 8am on the same day.

M.U.S.T. flag-raising ceremony for 2018/2019

Guests attended the Ceremony included Ms. Xu Ting, Director-General of the Department of Education and Youth Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R.; Mr. Zheng Xinyou, Director of the Department of Public Diplomacy and Information, 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, Acting Director of the Macao Tertiary Education Services Office, Dr Liu Chak Wan, Chancellor of M.U.S.T., Professor Zhou Ligao, Chairman of the University Council, members of the M.U.S.T. Foundation, the University Council, and the Advisory Committee of M.U.S.T., and representatives from other organizations, local higher institutions and secondary schools.

President Liu Liang addressing the ceremony

Chair Professor Liu Liang, President of M.U.S.T., addressed the Opening Ceremony. He spoke on behalf of the University to give the highest regards to Professor Martin Chalfie, Nobel laureate in Chemistry, who has received an honorary doctoral degree in science from the University, and to give the warmest welcome to the new students. As the largest-scale university in Macao, M.U.S.T. has important missions placed on its shoulder, to further Macao’s higher education and scientific innovation. The University has been upholding quality and innovation as the two core guiding principles, bringing in excellent faculty and research members from home and abroad and setting up high-level platforms for innovative research. Looking ahead, M.U.S.T. will continue to satisfy the needs for Macao’s societal development, contribute to making China an innovative country, and implement the Belt and Road initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development, to train more excellent talents and pursue more science and technology achievements. President Liu also pointed out that by establishing the technique of using fluorescent proteins as luminescent markers for gene expression, Prof. Martin Chalfie has made outstanding contributions for mankind well-being, and he called for the students to look up to the great scientist, and fear no difficulties and failures when pursuing knowledge; he also expressed wishes that the students attend deeply to knowledge, human qualities, and value orientations in their university life, for knowledge is the basis, on which one can build a career; human qualities are the foundation, on which one can shape characters; value orientations are the essence, on which one’s quality of life depends.

Dr. Alexis Tam Chon Weng giving a speech at the ceremony

Dr. Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, gave a speech at the ceremony, congratulating Prof. Martin Chalfie on being conferred honorary doctoral degree by M.U.S.T. The Secretary noted that M.U.S.T. has made impressive progresses in teaching, and scientific research. The National Ministry of Science and Technology approved M.U.S.T. in establishing the State Key Laboratory in Lunar and Planetary Science, which following the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines has become the second state key laboratory in M.U.S.T.. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education also approved M.U.S.T. in establishing partner research bases and joint laboratories with several key research institutes of humanities and social sciences of mainland Chinese universities. Such state-level development projects embody the determinations and initiatives of Macao higher institutions in joining the bigger picture of national progress and contributing to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area; they are bound to play positive roles in developing high-quality education and innovative science and technology in Macao. The Macao S.A.R. Government will continue to give support to local universities, especially in creating more diverse learning opportunities nationally and internationally for students, adding more exchange and internship opportunities, and helping students to broaden horizons and improve overall capabilities and competitiveness. The Secretary hopes that M.U.S.T. builds on existing achievements and aims toward higher goals, to train more outstanding talents, who are equipped with humanities qualities, professional knowledge, international vision and innovative abilities, pursue more science and technology outcomes, and make greater contributions for Macao’s social and economic development and national prosperity.

Winner of Teaching Excellence Awards, Assistant professor Lin Yong Jia from School of Business gave a speech as a teachers’ representative. She said that she herself graduated from M.U.S.T. years ago and thus has witnessed the growth and development of the University in person. Over 18 years, the University has made impressive achievements in teaching, scientific research and social services. The University has produced a large number of excellent graduates, some of whom went on further studies in internationally famous universities, some entered renowned corporations for employment, and others have become leaders in their industries. She hopes that the new students could stay perseverant in study, stay true to their hearts, and in awe of academic integrity, to fulfill the University motto, “Dedication to practical studies, enhancement of knowledge, ability and quality” and meet their better self.

Wang Haihang, from School of Business representing new undergraduate students. He said there would be new challenges waiting ahead for all the new students in the new semester, and to overcome the challenges, they would need to identify new goals for learning and for life as soon as possible. At the university, while continuing to pursue academic studies, students would also need to train all kinds of abilities, since both professional knowledge and basic abilities are the foundation for future life and career in society; thus, they should also take part in social practice activities to achieve all-round growth and development.

Zeng Xinzhi, doctoral student from Faculty of Law, spoke on behalf of the new graduate students. He said that M.U.S.T. is equipped with high-quality teachers and an outstanding study atmosphere, which is why he chose here as destination for further studies. Having already earned a Master degree in law, he decided to pursue a doctoral degree in hope of further deepening his expertise in law, making achievements in his area and contributing for the general society.

More than 3,000 new students enrolled at M.U.S.T. for 2018/2019

At the ceremony, the University presented the 2017/2018 Teaching Excellence Awards to the winning teachers and the Dean’s List scholarships to outstanding students. Mr. Chen Xiaoping, Deputy General Manager of the Bank of China Ltd (Macau Branch), presented the Bank of China Research Awards to five excellent researchers; Mr. Xu Delai, Chairman and President of Zhongzhu Healthcare Holding Co., Ltd, presented the Zhongzhu Medicine & Life Science Excellent Teacher Award to altogether 18 winners.

Prof. Martin Chalfie is a world-famous biologist. For his research in green fluorescent proteins, which led to the technique of using fluorescent proteins as luminescent markers for gene expression, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008. The technique has been widely applied in the biological and medical sciences, and has become one of the most important tools in contemporary biological research and understanding of the development mechanisms of many human diseases.

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