As autumn arrives and a new journey begins, the School of Business (MSB) at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) welcomes its 2026 class of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) students. 96 freshmen from diverse fields, each with rich management experience, gathered at MUST and exchanged ideas with over ten seniors from the class of 2025. Dr. Tong Ka Lok and Professor Pang Chuan, Vice Presidents of MUST; Professor Sheng Ni, Dean of MSB; Dr. Feng Junguo, Executive Director of the School of Graduate Studies; Associate Professor Zhang Zhuo, DBA Program Director, and other faculty members attended the opening ceremony and welcome dinner, jointly witnessing the DBA freshmen embark on their three-year academic journey.

Group photo of 2026 DBA freshmen with principal officers of University and MSB

At the welcome dinner, Vice President Tong Ka Lok delivered a speech on behalf of the University leadership and offered a message of encouragement to the DBA freshmen: “Never forget your original aspiration, and seek knowledge by investigating things”. He introduced the development of MUST and the distinctive features of the University’s DBA program to the incoming students, encouraging them to uphold the University motto, “Dedication to practical studies, Enhancement of knowledge, Ability and Quality” to dedicate themselves to scholarly pursuits, and to seek true knowledge. For executives who have already accumulated rich experience in business practice, returning to campus is not starting from scratch, but rather a deep exploration of moving from practice to theory, and then enriching practice with theory. Vice President Tong encouraged students to cherish their next three years of study, bring the experiences, questions, and insights gained from years of business practice into the classroom, continuously discover, research, and solve problems through the integration of theoretical learning and business practice, and further broaden their management horizons.

Speech by Vice President Tong Ka Lok

Dean Sheng Ni extended a warm welcome to all DBA freshmen on behalf of MSB, and introduced MSB’s current development, teaching faculty, and educational advantages. As one of the oldest degree programs since the founding of MUST, the DBA program has made continuous development and refinement over two decades, cultivating numerous business leaders and management elites equipped with a global perspective. Over the next three years, MSB will provide DBA students with an excellent platform for learning and exchange. MSB also looks forward to students strengthening communication with professors and mentors while continuing their studies, combining their rich business practice experience with academic research, gaining fresh inspiration through these collaborative exchanges, and successfully completing their studies.

Speech by Dean Sheng Ni

“Why choose MUST?” Facing this question, freshman representative Zhang Yan, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Morgan Stanley China, offered his answer. In his speech, Zhang Yan stated that MUST’s excellent learning platform and environment were major reasons attracting him to the DBA program. What impressed him even more was the open and relaxed atmosphere of faculty-student interaction within MSB. In his view, the value of DBA studies lies not only in acquiring knowledge, but also in a platform where practitioners can put aside their roles, break through boundaries, and engage in open communications. In MUST MSB, students can bring real problems encountered in corporate operation and management into the classroom, engage in face-to-face exchanges and discussions with professors to re-examine the challenges of business practice from different theoretical perspectives.

Zhang Yan expressed his hope that the new students will fully utilize the diverse exchange platform provided by the MUST DBA program, truly apply their knowledge to practice, reflect while learning, verify through practice, grow through exchange. He encouraged them to bring new insights and capabilities back to their respective industries and enterprises, continuing to create value in their fields.

Speech by freshman representative Zhang Yan

A welcome dinner marks the first formal gathering between the freshmen and MSB, serving as a warm starting point for a new learning journey. The atmosphere at the dinner was vibrant, with the communications between current and new students; as well as active interactions between faculty and students. From classroom learning to corporate practice, and from industry trends to management thinking, perspectives from different backgrounds and fields continuously sparked off one another, showcasing the unique vitality of the DBA platform, which brings together entrepreneurs, senior executives, and industry professionals.

For the class of 2026, the next three years mean not only systematic academic training, but also an opportunity to gain fresh insights into themselves, their enterprises, and the business world. A new journey has begun. It is believed that on the diverse and open platform of MUST MSB, the DBA class of 2026 will uphold their initial aspiration for knowledge, explore the principles of management through practice, expand their cognitive boundaries through continuous learning and in-depth exchanges, and jointly write a brilliant chapter belonging to this class of DBA students.