Education | University of Macau appoints new rector

Yonghua Song has been appointed the ninth rector of the University of Macau (UM) and will assume office on January 9, 2018.

The University Council unanimously recommended Song to the Chief Executive as the only candidate for the post, which the CE accepted.

The newly-appointed rector has held several leadership positions at U.K. and Chinese universities, and has actively promoted internationalization and institutional cooperation.

In a UM press release, Song says that he “is particularly familiar with the development and operational models of higher education institutions in Europe, the United States and Asia.”

Song was previously a member of the Standing Committee of the China Communist Party (CPC) at Zhejiang University.

He was also the deputy director of a working office for skilled human resources at the Organization Department of CPC from September 2009 until November 2012.

“The University Council decided that Professor Song is the most suitable candidate to lead UM in its next stage of development,” the press release states.

Song is a scholar in electrical engineering and received his Ph.D. from the China Electric Power Research Institute. From 1991 to 1996, he held various teaching and research positions at U.K. universities.

In 1997, he was appointed Professor of Power Systems at Brunel University and later Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies at Brunel University in 2004. According to UM, the latter appointment made him the first Chinese scholar to assume a senior management position at a British university

Due to his knowledge in his field and contributions to power systems research, he was awarded a D.Sc. by Brunel University in 2002 and an Honorary D.Eng. by Bath University in 2014.

Song was invited to return to China as a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Tsinghua University in 2009 and was appointed assistant president that same year.

The UM statement noted that his research – namely in areas such as energy, information and control engineering – has enhanced the development of the electric power industry.

Due to his scientific achievements and professional stature, he has served as an appointed advisor to the Science and Technology Committee of the MSAR since 2002.

UM said the University Council is confident that the institution will continue to develop with the joint effort of Song and the management team, as well as the faculty, students and alumni.

“UM will scale new heights in all-rounded development, towards the goal of the University in becoming an internationally recognized outstanding institution of higher learning,” the statement continues.

Song is currently the executive vice president of Zhejiang University, Founding Dean of the international campus, and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Higher Education.