The Miracle of University of Macau

[Sponsored article] The Hengqin campus of the University of Macau (UM) has a spacious environment with a refreshing, academic vibe.

Professor Da-Hsuan Feng, Director of Global Affairs and Special Advisor to Rector, smilingly remarked, “Miracle is what I would say about UM. In 1980s there were no public universities in Macau. It was not until 1990s that the territory began to see its tertiary education development, which has been well on track only since the 21st century. In light of the government’s recent focus on economic growth as well as developing Macau into a world-class city, a top-notch institution is needed.”

“A scholar said an outstanding university must grow from seeds. An institution must have its own purpose, mindset and soul, as you can see from the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and Yale. After the past decade of changes, UM has established the 1.1 sqkm campus in Hengqin, nurturing its central thoughts and soul while fostering a UM culture. This is where the miracle lies. Wonder also happens when the Chinese government gives Macau the privilege to build the UM campus in Hengqin, something like a concession,” Feng added.

“UM has three main objectives: first, to develop students into valuable beings of this century; second, to help them understand their abilities; third, to help them explore unknown possibilities. Simple as these goals may seem, they are fundamental to a university where life-changing experiences take place. The way local talents are nurtured and inspired is rooted in the soul as well as atmosphere of an institution. This can be useful for life,” he said with a hopeful gaze.