MUST Holds Opening Ceremony Welcoming New Students
President Joseph Hun-wei LEE Calls on Students to Embrace the New AI Era and Advance into an Interdisciplinary Future

The Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) held the Opening Ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic year at the University’s Block R Academic Complex at 11 a.m. on September 6^th, 2025, with an online broadcast. This academic year, MUST welcomed over 7,600 new students, including 3,800 undergraduates and 3,800 postgraduate students. The officiating guests for the ceremony were: Vice Chancellor and President Chair Professor Joseph Hun-wei LEE; Vice Presidents Dr. Tong Ka Lok, Chair Professor Paul Kwong Hang TAM, Chair Professor Jiang Zhi Hong, Professor Pang Chuan, and Dr. Kwong Ying Wa; along with the deans of all faculties and heads of the administrative departments. During the ceremony, MUST conferred the “2024/2025 Teaching Excellence Award” on two teachers in recognition of their outstanding teaching performance. This year’s winners are Associate Professor Xiao Xuanxuan from Faculty of Innovation Engineering and Assistant Professor You Shuxiang from University International College. MUST also announced the winners of “2024/2025 President’s Medalist Award” during the ceremony.

MUST welcomes about 7,600 new students for the 2025/2026 Academic Year

President Joseph Hun-wei LEE delivers a speech

President of the University, Chair Professor Joseph Hun-wei LEE delivered a speech. President Lee emphasized that MUST is a young and dynamic university committed to promoting educational innovation and interdisciplinary integration to cultivate outstanding talent prepared for the future. In an era of rapid AI advancement, President Lee stated that it is important to develop critical thinking. For this purpose, MUST is taking a multi-faceted approach to the age of AI. Beyond enacting an ethical governance policy, it has made interdisciplinary studies a core requirement. This strategy is complemented by a strengthened emphasis on English-medium education, designed to equip students with a truly global outlook. President Lee particularly emphasized that the fundamental purpose of university education lies in shaping enduring intellectual capabilities, strong character, and a passion for lifelong learning. He expressed his hope that new students would fully utilize Macao’s international platform to grow into a new generation of talents who possess both a deep understanding of Chinese culture and a broad global perspective. Finally, he extended his best wishes to all freshmen for a fruitful academic journey at MUST and a promising future.

President Lee conferred the 2024/2025 Academic Year “Teaching Excellence Award” upon two teachers

President Lee and Vice President Tam took photo with the winners of “2024/2025 President’s Medalist Award”

Teacher representative, Associate Professor Xiao Xuanxuan from Faculty of Innovation Engineering speaks at the ceremony

Assistant Professor Xiao Xuanxuan from the Faculty of Innovation Engineering spoke as teacher representative. He advised freshmen to cherish their precious prime of their youth: “Read widely, think diligently, and practice boldly.” He encouraged students not to doubt their abilities when facing unexpected headwinds and challenges, noting that experiencing failure, learning from it, and growing through it are also essential parts of a university education. He wished students to gain in knowledge, growth, and friendship on their rewarding journey at MUST.

Teacher representative, Assistant Professor You Shuxiang from University International College speaks at the ceremony

Assistant Professor You Shuxiang from University International College also delivered a speech as teacher representative. He suggested that freshmen should set clear and actionable goals, step out of their comfort zone, and express themselves proactively in multilingual setting while listening attentively in cross-cultural exchanges. He also encouraged students, “Don’t get stuck on the past, and don’t let the future scare you, focus on what you can do today and try your best.” He concluded by wishing the students great academic success and a truly fulfilling experience, hoping that they would make the most of their time at MUST and become the best versions of themselves.

Undergraduate student representative, Leong Kawai speaks at the ceremony

Leong Kawai from the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery spoke at the ceremony as a representative of undergraduate students. She pointed out that all the significance of university lies not only in academic transcripts but also in holistic growth. Therefore, students should build a foundation of diligence and maintain an insatiable thirst for knowledge, both inside and outside the classroom. They should take practice as their path, transforming theory into ability through internships, volunteer work, competitions, and more. And most importantly, students should embrace diversity with an open mind, seeking guidance from mentors, building friendships, exploring new fields, and discovering our limitless potential. Finally, she expressed her belief that all freshmen stand at this threshold of new beginnings, they are both dream-chasers and future-creators.

Cheong Meiin, a student from the PhD Degree of Communication from FA, speaks on behalf of new postgraduate students

Cheong Meiin, a new student from the PhD Degree of Communication from the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, spoke on behalf of new graduate students. She said that MUST is a young institution that has grown and thrived alongside the city of Macao. In just 25 short years, MUST has earned an outstanding academic reputation for its technological innovation and multicultural environment. She inspired her fellow classmate to set sail with academic as their canvas and steer with ideals as their rudder, exploring and advancing on the vast ocean of knowledge. She expressed her belief that, by supporting one another and progressing together with the outstanding classmates from diverse backgrounds, they would stride forward together here at MUST. 

MUST holds the 2025/2026 Flag-Raising Ceremony

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