CPTTM gives scholarship to USJ fashion design student

The Macau Productivity Technology Transfer Center (CPTTM) launched its scholarship for Fashion Design students enrolled at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ).

The scholarship is designed to encourage local students to pursue a bachelor degree in fashion design. The first scholarship was attributed to student Lou Nga I., USJ’s first year bachelor of Fashion Design.

Director-general of CPTTM Shuen Ka Hung confirmed on Monday at a press conference at USJ that the center would award one outstanding student with a four-year scholarship that pays an annual sum of MOP24,500.

According to Shuen, the scholarship can have a great impact in inspiring local students to enter the region’s fashion industry and will aid the cultivation of professionals while enhancing the standard of the local industry.

Álvaro Barbosa, dean of USJ’s Faculty of Creative Industries, recalled that enrolling students to join the first year of the program was challenging, citing the medium of teaching and high tuition fees.

According to him, the institution’s Bachelor in Fashion Design current cohort is eight students. The university has designed the program for a maximum of 20 students.

Meanwhile USJ rector Peter Stilwell noted that there has been a drop in enrollments over the years as fewer students are moving from secondary schools into higher education.  He additionally remarked that a significant number of local students travel to Taiwan, mainland China, and across the region to pursue higher education – which leaves few students attending higher education institutions in Macau.

“So it’s very challenging when it comes to this time of the year to publicize our courses […] We’re also affected by this small number of local students.” he said.