Micro-degree programs planned at Macau universities to support economic diversification

The Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) and the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) plan to launch micro-degree programs in the coming academic year in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), Sino-Portuguese economic and trade relations, smart healthcare, and tourism, while the University of Macau (UM) is currently exploring micro-degree programs in financial data analysis and the MICE industry.

The move is designed to respond to future educational trends and support Macau’s appropriate economic diversification strategy.

Responding to lawmaker Leong Sun Iok’s concern over the “theory-practice gap” faced by many graduates and current students – where academic learning often fails to match actual job requirements – the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) stated that it is following the principle of “advance planning and dynamic adjustment” to proactively optimize higher education institutions’ academic program offerings, enhance school-enterprise collaboration, strengthen practical training components, and establish a talent cultivation system aligned with industrial development.

Prior to the DSEDJ statement released yesterday, the move had been revealed by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam at a Legislative Assembly session.

She stated that, by guiding higher education institutions to optimize their disciplinary structures, the institutions have kept pace with the times in recent years by adjusting certain curricula – including updating traditional business courses to subjects such as business intelligence and data analysis – and introducing several new programs closely related to the “1+4” industries.

She emphasized that this year’s efforts will focus on encouraging institutions to help students in fields such as computer science and information technology obtain professional skill certifications and on promoting micro-specialization courses with shorter study periods that closely align with market needs, thereby opening new avenues for “order-based” talent cultivation.

The authorities also addressed the optimization of adult and continuing education, stating that they would introduce three- to four-month “short, practical and fast-track” micro-degree programs. Currently, several institutions plan to launch more than 10 such programs in the coming academic year. The next step will involve integrating credit-bearing courses with micro-degree programs within existing curriculum frameworks. Additionally, scholarships for designated disciplines will be dynamically adjusted annually based on industry needs, with existing scholarship allocations already prioritizing the four key industries.

According to a written reply from DSEDJ head Kong Chi Meng last month, Macau’s higher education institutions will also introduce professional technical instructors to teach on campus –for example, in law, healthcare, education and tourism-related bachelor’s degree programs –bringing the latest industry technologies, techniques and management experience into the classroom to make teaching content more closely aligned with actual job requirements.

Meanwhile, as announced, the Education and Youth Development Bureau and the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) will hold another youth job fair from May 7 to 9, running for three consecutive days at the Macao Forum in ZAPE. Online booking and registration are already available.

According to the announcement, the job fair – aimed at “helping Macau’s youth successfully launch their careers and enter the job market” – will feature over 60 local companies and organizations spanning integrated leisure tourism, hospitality, information technology, banking and finance, aviation, social services and other sectors.

More than 1,300 job vacancies will be offered across over 400 diverse positions, including AI engineers, chip testing engineers, speech recognition algorithm engineers, flight attendants, multimedia designers, speech therapists, college administrative staff, social workers, activity coordinators and customer service officers.