CityU hosts the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the School of Education cum Education Forum to explore talent cultivation

To mark the 10th anniversary of its establishment, the School of Education (SOE) of City University of Macau (CityU) hosted the 10th Anniversary Celebration cum Education Forum today at the Ho Yin Convention Centre on the Taipa campus. Teng Sio Hong, deputy director of the Macao SAR Government Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), Li Liang, academic consultant of SOE, Jun Liu, rector of CityU, Cheang Hong Kuong, secretary-general of the Chinese Educators Association of Macau, Sio Hin Wa, secretary-general of the General Association of Chinese Students of Macau, and Liying Cheng, dean of SOE, officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In his speech, Rector Jun Liu congratulated the School of Education on its 10th anniversary and expressed his sincere gratitude to the experts and scholars from all social sectors who have always supported the development of the school, as well as to the former colleagues and all faculty and students of SOE. He discussed how SOE navigated challenges and developed over the past decade, cultivating outstanding educators and administrators for Macao, the Greater Bay Area, and the country, and contributing to the development of the education industry with the strength of CityU. He hoped that SOE will continue to deepen its cultivation in educational technology and smart education, allowing students to thrive in this diverse and open era, nurturing education talents with an international perspective and innovative spirit, and becoming pioneers in future education, continuously playing an important role in the education sector.

Deputy Director Teng Sio Hong, on behalf of the Education and Youth Development Bureau, congratulated the School of Education on its 10th anniversary and affirmed the university’s efforts and contributions to the development of Macao's education industry. He pointed out that CityU has always adhered to the mission and responsibility of “serving Macao and integrating into the Greater Bay Area,” and has continuously made new developments in its path as a metropolitan university. He continued to talk about how SOE has been focusing on postgraduate education, with its education programs being widely welcomed by students, and has played an active role in the professional development of local teachers, including improving their academic qualifications and strengthening their research capabilities. As he mentioned that ten years is an important milestone, DSEDJ will continue to support the development of local higher education institutions, including CityU, strengthen cooperation with various higher education institutions, and play an active role in education and teacher training, hoping that CityU will continue to improve the quality of teaching and strengthen talent cultivation, making greater contributions to Macao’s education industry.

In her speech, SOE Dean, Prof. Liying Cheng expressed her gratitude to the university and all sectors of society for their support, as well as to all faculty and students for their efforts in the development of the school. She hoped that every student will enjoy their time studying at CityU and continuously improve themselves, using their strengths and research capacity to contribute to the development of Macao, the Greater Bay Area, and the country’s education industry.

Vong Kuoc Ieng, principal of the Choi Nong Chi Tai School, as a representative of secondary education, delivered a speech. As a frontline educator, he shared valuable experiences and perspectives on talent cultivation, praised the SOE’s talent cultivation strategy and achievements, and made suggestions for the future development of the school.

Ieong Pui Ian, vice principal of Pui Ching Middle School, as a representative of outstanding PhD graduates, delivered a speech. She shared her experiences during her studies at CityU and talked about how she combined years of experience with academic research, laying a solid foundation for her future endeavors and development under the guidance of her professors and mentors.

PhD student Xiao Geyang, as a representative of current postgraduate students, delivered a speech, expressing gratitude for the high-quality learning environment provided by the university and the hard work of the faculty. During her studies at CityU, she witnessed the continuous growth of the teaching staff, the improvement of teaching facilities, and the increasing recognition in society and research achievements. She encouraged her fellow students to focus on the present, study hard, improve their qualities, and use their educational passion and commitment to repay their alma mater.

Prof. Peng Jun, program coordinator at SOE, gave a presentation on the development of the school over the past decade, showcasing the achievements in areas such as vision and mission, curriculum construction, and research output. To academic reputation and international exchanges, he also highlighted the newly established “Macau Global Education Research Innovation Center” aimed at constructing research and learning base for industry-academia collaborations to serve the educational integration, development, and innovation in the Greater Bay Area.

In the following session, the Education Forum held a series of academic lectures and research activities. Renowned scholar Andy Curtis, former president of the TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) gave a lecture on “Going Beyond the Native User: Publishing in English,” sharing valuable experiences on publishing in English academic journals with faculty and students. In addition, Li Shengbing, dean of the School of Education at South China Normal University, also gave a lecture on “Writing Guidelines for Educational Academic Papers”, sharing his years of teaching experience and knowledge on educational academic research and journal writing. The forum also included a poster exhibition of academic research output from master’s and PhD students, as well as presentations of their research achievements, providing a platform for faculty and students to exchange ideas and discussions in an immersive academic ambience.

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Other guests in attendance included Wu Jianzuo, president of the Macau Special Education Study Association, Kong Zhaowei, associate dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau, Rochelle Ge, dean of the School of Education at the University of Saint Joseph, Zhong Weihe, president of Macau Millennium College, Li Shuying, dean of the Faculty of Education at Shenzhen University, and SOE distinguished professors, Guo Xiaoming and Wang Min. From CityU, Vice Rectors Zhou Wanlei and Ip Kuai Peng, Pro-Rectors Wicky So Kam Hung, Robert Chan Chon Pat, and Vince Chu Te Lin, as well as Lixian Jin, dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Adrian Cheung Wai Kong, dean of Faculty of Finance.

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Source: School of Education

Photo Credit: CityU Reporter