Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries cultivates interdisciplinary talents to serve Macao and national development

The Institute for Research on Portuguese-speaking Countries (IROPC) of the City university of Macau is a key faculty-level academic unit dedicated to academic research, postgraduate education and publication. The Institute is a local distinctive training base and think-tank for country and regional studies.

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First Macao’s non-linguistic research program on studies of Portuguese-speaking countries

IROPC is the only institution in Macao to provide non-linguistic master’s and doctoral degree programs for the studies of Portuguese-speaking countries within the scope of international relations and country conditions. It is the third institution in the world to offer such a discipline. The curriculums are designed to align with Macao’s vision to integrate into the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and to build the city into a Commerce and Trade Co-operation Platform for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.

• Master of Arts in Portuguese-Speaking Countries Studies offers two specializations, namely the studies on the development and governance of Portuguese-speaking countries and the studies on relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

 

• Doctor of Philosophy in Portuguese-Speaking Countries Studies program offers three specializations, including the comparative studies on the development of Portuguese-speaking countries, the studies on relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and the studies on Portuguese-speaking countries and global governance.

 

The postgraduate programs have undergone assessments done by the Higher Education Evaluation Center of the Ministry of Education. The curriculums focus on social study, economy and trade, law, international relations, and regional governance and development. During their studies, students will have the opportunity to engage in various seminars and workshops, such as the Academic Salon on “One Belt One Road” and China’s Diplomacy Lecture and take part in research projects and international academic activities.

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Faculty with international and interdisciplinary backgrounds

To better promote postgraduate education and research output of the country and regional studies with Macao characteristics, IROPC has built an international faculty and research team with interdisciplinary backgrounds. Many of the academic member are from Portugal, Taiwan, Macao, and mainland China and are proficient in Chinese, English, and Portuguese languages. The faculty covers a wide range of disciplines, including Law, International Relations, Political Science, History, and the Portuguese Language, aiming to nurture high-caliber talents with global perspective and solid knowledge background to contribute to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

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Engage in national research projects

IROPC has been engaged in governmental research projects, which has carried out significant output to drive the development of Macao. It is playing a actively role in providing academic support to Macao and national development and to fill in gaps in the Portuguese-Speaking Countries Studies. These institutions are namely the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Macao Foundation, the Macao Higher Education Fund, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, the National Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee and the Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

Over the year, IROPC has published a number of monographs and dozens of academic articles. The monographs include: Studies on Portuguese-speaking Countries and the Unique Role of Macao Special Administrative Region of China (Beijing: Economy and Management Publishing House, 2019), Country Report on the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2020), São Tomé and Príncipe: The building of an archipelago state (Macao: City University of Macau, 2020), Challenges, Development, and Promise of Timor-Leste (Macao: City University of Macau, 2019), China and Portuguese-speaking Small Island States, From sporadic bilateral exchanges to a comprehensive multilateral platform (Macao: City University of Macau, 2021). China, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe: From sporadic bilateral exchanges to a comprehensive multilateral platform (Macao: City University of Macau, 2022).

The publication about the prospect of the Portuguese-speaking countries written by the postgraduate students is currently under progress. The monographs in local social studies include Macao SAR’s External Relations Under “One Country, two Systems” (Beijing: China Social Sciences Press, 2019), Coping Research of Aging Population in Macao Special Administrative Region (Beijing: Economy and Management Publishing House, 2019), Legal Guarantee, Policy Coordination and Technical Support of Financial Security in Macao Special Administrative Region (Beijing: Economy and Management Publishing House, 2019). The publication about the prospect of the Portuguese-speaking countries written by the postgraduate students is currently under progress.

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Exchanges and internships broaden horizons

IROPC actively promotes academic exchanges and engagements in local, the mainland and international exchange activities. The institute has signed cooperation agreements with universities overseas, such as the University of Évora, the University of Coimbra, the University of Lisbon, the University of Minho, the National University of Cabo Verde, and the National University of Timor-Leste. More than 40 students have participated in international academic lectures, summer exchanges, half-year and one-year exchange studies to broaden their academic horizons. These experiential learning opportunities helped gather information for their academic research.

IROPC conducted field studies to visit local firms, such as the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) and the Institute of European Studies of Macau. It encouraged students to take part in exchange programs at mainland universities, such as the Guangxi Normal University. In addition, during the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), internships are arranged for students to enrich their learning life and enable them to apply knowledge into practice.

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High-profile academic activities help students develop research interests

The Institute actively organizes a number of high-end academic lectures and international academic seminars, which have generated a greater influence in academia.

Since 2016, IROPC has organized more than 80 sessions of the Academic Salon on “One Belt One Road” in Macao with leading scholars to give students a multi-dimensional understanding of the current international situation and the situation in the Portuguese-speaking countries. Since 2018, its China’s Diplomacy Lecture has invited diplomats from the mainland, including Chinese Ambassador Su Ge, and current diplomats to share their experiences. In addition, the institute has organized thematic symposiums on Portuguese-speaking countries Studies. Previous editions explored topics on studies on Timor-Leste, Portuguese-speaking countries and island states, and country studies on Angola. The three editions brought together scholars worldwide at CityU to discuss the prospect of these countries, which an English-language conference proceeding published following the conclusion of each edition.

This April, to celebrate the success of the upcoming Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), IROPC held the press conference to publish the Research on the Role of Macao Platform for Economic and Trade Relations between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries under “the Belt and Road” Initiative. This August, China, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe: From sporadic bilateral exchanges to a comprehensive multilateral platform was launched. In view of China’s presidentship of the BRICS, IROPC, the Macao “One Belt, One Road” Research Center, the Asia-Pacific Business Research Centre, and the Research Centre for Macau Social and Economic Development hosted the “Macao and BRICS: Visions and Challenges” to study the 14th BRICS Summit Beijing Declaration and the remarks made by President Xi at the summit and to explore how Macao can form collaborations with BRICS countries and the challenges in the post-epidemic era.

Students at postgraduate levels are equipped with problem-solving skills, academic visions, and multidisciplinary knowledge, which will drive national development. Several high-profile academic events have been organized by the Institute to provide students with a broader platform for exchange to stimulate their research interests.

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A promising future for interdisciplinary professionals

Dedicated to the socio-economic development of Lusophone countries and research on the relationship between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, IROPC strives to nurture professionals with international perspectives, global vision and innovation spirit to serve Macao and the country. University and research institute graduates can find employment with public bodies and institutions abroad. These include embassies and consulates, multinational corporations, enterprises, and institutions, as well as media agencies and international and regional organizations.

At present, the Institute has brought some 150 graduates, some of them have pursued further doctoral studies at the University of Porto in Portugal or post-doctoral studies at the University of Minho in Portugal. Some have continued their pursue in post-doctoral studies at renowned universities in mainland China, such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Capital Normal University, Shanghai University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Some have even gone on to pursue careers in higher education, playing their roles in key universities such as Sun Yat-sen University, Sichuan International Studies University and Guizhou University of Finance and Economics.

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As a distinctive think-tank in Macao, the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries has always been serving the Macao community and promoting the development of scientific research, leveraging its strengths to play a role in building Macao as an exchange platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries and promoting Macao’s integration into the overall development of the nation.