The Macau University of Science and Technology held the Opening Ceremony 2024/2025 cum Ceremony for the Conferment of Honorary Doctoral Degrees at the University’s Block R Academic Complex at 11 a.m. on September 7th, 2024, and an online broadcast. This academic year, MUST welcomed about 7,600 new students, including 3,700 undergraduates and 3,900 postgraduate students. Ms. AO IEONG U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, representing the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, officiated the ceremony. Guests who attended include LI Xuefei, Director of the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Mr. GAO Yuan, Director 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 SAR; Dr. Liu Chak Wan, Chancellor of MUST; Dr. CHUI Sai Cheong, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MUST Foundation; Dr. Eddie WONG Yue Kai, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of MUST.; members of the MUST Foundation, the University Council and the Advisory Board, as well as government officials, major enterprises, associations, societies, representatives from local universities and secondary schools. MUST also announced the winners of the “2023/2024 President’s Medalist Award” during the ceremony.

MUST welcomes about 7,600 new students for the 2024/2025 Academic Year

Ms. AO IEONG U Gives a Speech

Ms. AO IEONG U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, said in her speech that for MUST. The SAR government had been actively promoting the development of local universities towards internationalization and high standards. It continued to leverage the advantages of the higher education system in Macao, expand comprehensive cross-institutional cooperation, and achieve collaborative development. It also actively supported innovation in universities and promotes the integration of industry, academia, and research, aiming to promote the market-oriented development of higher education. At the same time, it supported the development of distinctive disciplines in universities, moderately expands the student population, increased the number of non-local students, and collaborated with renowned mainland and overseas universities or institutions to offer graduate programs, aiming to build Macao’s higher education brand and continuously enhance the regional and international competitiveness of local universities. She pointed out that Macau University of Science and Technology closely followed the latest development policies of the country, and was committed to nurturing high-quality talents with innovative thinking and international perspectives who was loving the motherland and loving Macao. In recent years, it had made continuous contributions to the development of key industries. She also mentioned that Macao was actively pursuing the goal of its “1+4” economic diversified development strategy, striving to promote the coordinated development of various key industries, and continuously deepening the construction of “One center, One platform and One Base” in Macao. The strategic position of being the center city in the Greater Bay Area was becoming increasingly prominent, which would bring greater opportunities for the future development of the new generation. She encouraged the new students to set lofty aspirations early on, equip themselves with knowledge, and strive to become builders of a strong nation and successors of national rejuvenation.

President Joseph Hun-wei LEE delivers a speech

President of the University, Chair Professor Joseph Hun-wei LEE delivered a speech. The President said that MUST was a young university on the move, aimed to create an environment where students could try new things. The University had stepped up its efforts to build an innovative educational platform, and empowered students to embrace the Big Data era. The President also emphasized that must not forget the basics: to cultivate intellectual discipline, hold on to common sense and creativity, have sound judgment, and develop a healthy physique. Finally, he wished all new students every success, and a very happy and fruitful university life. The future belonged to them, there would be boundless opportunities for them.

From Left︰Prof. ZHANG Tao, Dr. LIU Chak Wan, Ms. AO IEONG U, LI Xuefei and Chair Prof. Joseph Hun-wei LEE.

Prof. ZHANG Tao, Doctor of Science honoris causa gives a Speech

Professor Zhang Tao thanked the University for the given recognition. Prof. ZHANG thought that the advancement of technology in the world was changing at a rapid pace, which profoundly affected the economic operating mode. In a world that emphasizes digitalization, intelligence and sustainability, cross-disciplinary cooperation and innovation are particularly important. For example, artificial intelligence can accurately predict the performance of materials, greatly enhance the efficiency of research and development of new materials and reduce costs, promote the rapid iteration of new materials, and promote the production of high-performance products. Drawing inspiration from diverse fields, it was through the intersection and fusion of different disciplines that people can collectively advance technological innovation and progress, form New Quality Productive Force, and provide impetus for high-quality development of the economy.

Teacher representative, Assistant Professor Kelvin ZHANG from the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management speaks at the ceremony

Assistant Professor Kelvin ZHANG from the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management spoke as a teacher representative. He shared his thoughts with free thoughts, the exchange of diverse viewpoints, and respect differences of all cultures and social backgrounds. He also hoped that students could learn to respect others, cherish friendship. Got involved in the University’s and Faculty’s clubs and activities, participated in events and festivals, cultivated their hobbies and interests. All these experiences will enrich their education journey. Shared goal was not only to have them leave here with a degree to certify the high level of knowledge they had achieved, but also to enjoy personal growth in all fronts and develop the best version of themselves in the next four years.

Undergraduate student representative Filemácio Hélvio Hung Mendes speaks at the ceremony

Filemácio Hélvio Hung Mendes from the Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery program of the Faculty of Medicine spoke at the ceremony as a representative of undergraduate students. He wished that all new students should study hard and absorb professional knowledge, as well as gave themselves space for logical thinking. At the same time, they could meet like-minded friends and improve our professional skills. They should also broaden their vision, pay attention to current events, learn about the world and cultivate our breadth of mind. Education bred confidence, confidence brought hope, hope led to peace. He firmly believed that they, filled with passion and dreams, with confidence and hope, daring to innovate and take responsibility, would be able to achieve academic success and contribute to society.

KOU Qingjia, a student from the PhD Degree of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from UIC, speaks on behalf of new postgraduate students

KOU Qingjia, a new student from the PhD Degree of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from the University International College, spoke on behalf of new graduate students. She quoted The English poet Eliot said“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” From China to the United States and the United Kingdom, from the practice of teaching Chinese language to the study of International Chinese Education in Macao, her motherland: her heart was pounding with excitement. Like all the new students here, she had chosen to come to MUST, a rising institution of higher education that was constantly striving for progress, in pursuit of a better self, and in the hope of contributing her share to the society.

MUST holds the 2024/2025 Flag-Raising Ceremony

Before the Ceremony, MUST held a Flag-Raising Ceremony for the New Academic Year at 8 a.m.