Education | UM Law degree no longer automatically recognized in Portugal

The University of Macau’s Law degree (taught in Portuguese) is no longer automatically recognized in Portugal, following changes added to its curricula.
“The degree can be recognized [as a legitimate law degree in Portugal], but will no longer be automatically recognized” as it has been in the past, according to a knowledgeable source to speaking to Lusa news agency.
Until now, a joint agreement – signed based on the opinion of a group of legal experts – allowed UM’s Law degree to be automatically recognized in Portugal.
The agreement, which was signed by the then Portuguese Education Minister and the Macau governor, took into account the curricula that the degree offered at the time of signing. The bachelor’s degree that UM now offers is still a five-year study program; however, changes were introduced to the length of its academic courses, and new subjects were also added.
The same source said that the current UM Law degree will most likely still be recognized in Portugal. However, the source stressed that “authorities are no longer obliged to do so, as had previously been the case,” because the agreement currently has no effect.
“If the academic program changed following an internal discussion over the matter, then I think it was mainly done so that the degree could be adapted [to changes taking place] in Portugal,” said Gabriel Tong, vice-
rector of UM’s Faculty of Law.
Without mentioning what kind of changes were discussed and implemented in the UM’s law degree, Mr Tong stressed that Macau wishes to maintain “a close relationship with Portugal” when it comes to legal matters. He added that UM is also committed to maintaining its law degree taught in Portuguese.
Mr Tong acknowledged that there is a need to “face this situation and to strive for the [UM Law degree] to continue to be recognized in Portugal.”
MDT/Lusa