Durão Barroso (center), with Alexis Tam (left) and Lei Heong Iok
The President of the Macao Polytechnic Institute (IPM) Lei Heong Iok, has referred to the former European Commission president, José Manuel Durão Barroso, as “a person of a truly unique civic, political and academic route”. He recalled that the former Portuguese Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs has been awarded with several distinctions “in various latitudes” and now it was IPM’s turn to show their respect for this figure.
Barroso was also distinguished as “a friend of Macau” with the title of Honorary Coordinator Professor, the highest title of the academy in terms of Polytechnic Institutes.
“Let us well understand the meaning of this binomial: Professor and Honorary Professor is the highest career level in higher education; in the case of polytechnic institutes, [the highest level is that of] Coordinator Professor. [The title is also] Honorary, because this stage is reached not only to honor and dignify those who receive the title, but because of their honor and dignity,” Dr Lei said.
In several congratulatory speeches presented at the award ceremony held at the IPM Auditorium yesterday, Dr Carlos André, head of IPM’s Portuguese Language Teaching and Research Centre (PTRC), recounted Barroso’s life path in a long speech, highlighting the most important moments and how they contributed to IPM’s decision in attributing this important award.
“He embraced an academic career in due time and whenever his life path allowed it, even when he experienced several dramas at different crossroads in his life. Because that was his choice, we always accepted his successive challenges and calls to serve the public, the communities and the nations with a sense of duty. This appeal from society led him to postpone his academic path many times and follow his commitment to the public cause of society that we all are a part of,” said Carlos André.
The MSAR government was also represented at the ceremony by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam, who referred in his speech to Barroso’s personal qualities, which included being “someone who was for years a dialogue builder.”
Mr Tam also recalled that “as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, [Barroso] worked to achieve many consensuses and participated actively in the solution of many conflicts – not only in Portuguese-speaking countries but all over the world. Firstly as Prime Minister of Portugal and then as president of the European Commission, he always pursued this goal.”
Barroso expressed his gratitude and honor upon receiving the award, saying that the title of Honorary Coordinator Professor assigned to him has “a special significance due to the fact that it has happened in Macau.”
In his speech, he said, “I have worked a lot in the past as Foreign Affairs Minister, Prime Minister and as President of the European Commission for the establishment and improvement of relations with Macau.” He recalled that, as Foreign Affairs Minister, he participated in the negotiations for the Macau handover. And lastly, looking upon his time as President of the European Commission, he recalled: “I visited Macau and supported some programs such as translation and interpretation from Chinese to Portuguese and vice-versa. So for me, this distinction has a special meaning, as it recognizes a contribution that I am proud to have given to improve the relations between Portugal and Europe with Macau and China.” He concluded by saying: “Now, as a teacher of this institution, I will do the best, as my agenda allows, to do my part.” RM
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