Gov’t reserves more land in Hengqin for university town expansion

The local government has reserved additional land in Hengqin to support the expansion of the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, paving way for new campuses and deeper cooperation between higher education institutions and the Greater Bay Area.

In response to a written inquiry from lawmaker Leong Hong Sai, Kong Chi Meng, director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), revealed that the government has requested additional land from the Executive Committee of the Hengqin Cooperation Zone to further develop the town.

The newly reserved land is located near the existing University of Macau (UM) campus in Hengqin and will allow multiple higher education institutions, including public institutions like the Macao University of Tourism (UTM), to establish new campuses.

“Sufficient land has been reserved near the Hengqin campus for the construction of new facilities for other public colleges and universities,” Kong said.

The DSEDJ director also confirmed that planning and design work for the expansion have been completed, with construction on the new UM Hengqin campus expected to begin within the year.

The project, covering 370,000 square meters, will accommodate faculties such as Medicine, Information Technology, and Design, while also fostering partnerships with foreign universities.

Additionally, the written response noted that the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) is exploring suitable sites within Macau to build a dedicated science and technology R&D industrial park.

Kong explained that the park aims to “meet the future development needs of the scientific and technological innovation industry,” by providing high-quality infrastructure to attract innovative tech enterprises.

“Academic conferences and events should be held there to promote academic and cultural exchanges, and to broaden the international exposure of teaching staff, researchers, and students,” he added.

Addressing the integration of education, research, and industry, Kong pointed to the University of Macau’s Hengqin campus as a successful model of collaborative innovation. He noted that 19 joint laboratories and more than 150 industry-commissioned research projects have already been developed by the institution.

Kong emphasized, “The government is promoting cooperation between higher education institutions and businesses, aiming to strengthen integration among industry, academia, and research.”

In response to concerns over international competitiveness and the ability to foster scientific and technological breakthroughs, Kong said institutions would strengthen ties with enterprises to offer more industrial internships and off-campus training programs.

These initiatives would allow students to gain hands-on experience and participate in international exchange programs, with the goal of strengthening cooperation with globally renowned universities, he added.

On the topic of global partnerships, Kong highlighted the launch this year of joint ventures with Brazil and France, while cooperation with Portugal continues under a recently renewed agreement facilitated by the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) for joint scientific research.

Kong affirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing collaboration between higher education and high-tech industries.

He noted, “In recent years, Macau universities have expanded into fields including traditional Chinese medicine, biomedicine, microelectronics, robotics, and science and engineering,” underscoring the breadth of academic development.

Kong also emphasized the essential role of Macau’s universities in driving innovation and supporting economic growth. He reiterated continued government support for these efforts, stating, “The SAR Government encourages Macau’s higher education institutions to fully leverage their strengths in international education within regional cooperation frameworks.”

Previous reports estimate that the Hengqin University Town expansion will involve an investment of nearly MOP20 billion.