The new University Town to be established in Hengqin will launch 42 courses and interdisciplinary academic research, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, O Lam, announced at the Legislative Assembly (AL).
According to the Secretary, in response to an inquiry from lawmaker Song Pek Kei, the project will be constructed in three phases, with basic completion expected by 2030.
In the first phase, the University of Macau (UM), Macao Polytechnic University (MPU), and Macao University of Tourism (UTM) will move into approximately 65,000 square meters of facilities in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. This is expected to happen between August and September this year.
In this first phase, the institutions will conduct postgraduate activities, with the initial number of students enrolled expected to be around 1,200 across 42 courses.
The 42 courses offered in the first phase will be distributed across the different institutions, with UM offering a total of 23, UTM 12, and the remaining seven offered by MPU.
The project also aims to recruit international students, which will be a key focus of the second phase.
Regarding staff, one of the main matters addressed in the inquiry by lawmaker Song, O Lam stated that the three universities will conduct a joint open recruitment drive for Macau residents in the first half of this year, with a particular focus on young people.
Song raised concerns about local involvement in the process and the recruitment of foreign talent to contribute to the reputation and image of the University Town.
In response to Song’s concerns, the Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Kong Chi Meng, stated that several local institutions are in discussions with internationally renowned universities about joint programs to attract international talent to Macau, including staff and students.
According to Kong, these talks are expected to lead to partnerships between local and internationally renowned universities to share experiences, conduct joint research, and offer exchange programs.
Focus on science and engineering
The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, O Lam, in providing more details on the project proposed by lawmakers, added that the Hengqin University Town will focus on science and engineering disciplines to cultivate interdisciplinary research talent.
This includes the University of Macau establishing a medical school, an IT science school, an engineering school, and a design school, with undergraduate and postgraduate students comprising 55% and 45% of the student body, respectively.
The Macao Polytechnic University and Macao University of Tourism will offer courses in environmental intelligence, smart tourism, international convention and event management, Portuguese language, and economics and trade, O Lam further remarked.
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