To further deepen the development of the joint academic collaboration, a delegation led by Rector Jun Liu of City University of Macau (CityU), attended the 2026 opening ceremony of the Hainan International College of Minzu University of China (MUC) in Hainan Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone. The delegation was warmly received by Qiang Shigong, deputy party secretary and president of MUC. During the visit, the two sides held a joint management committee meeting to deepen their cooperation. Vice Rector Wanlei Zhou and Dean Zhu Tianqing of the Faculty of Data Science accompanied the visit.
The opening ceremony was attended by Wang Huixian, member of the Party Committee and deputy director of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of Hainan Province; Xia Hui, member of the Party Committee and deputy director of the Management Committee of Hainan Lingshui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone; Qiang Shigong, president of MUC; Shân Wareing, president of Middlesex University; Jun Liu, rector of CityU; Peng Yong, vice president of MUC and dean of Hainan International College; representatives from partner institutions in the Pilot Zone; representatives from the Hainan Alumni Association of MUC; representatives from primary and secondary schools; and faculty and students from the joint programs. The ceremony opened with lively singing and dancing performances by faculty and students from the Hainan International College of MUC, bringing a sense of cultural richness and youthful energy.
Rector Jun Liu delivered an address at the ceremony. He offered a profound reflection on the core mission of university education in the digital era, set against the context of the booming generative artificial intelligence (AI). He put forward four guiding principles for student: “To question, seek truth, integrate, and create”, encouraging them to cherish their learning opportunities, dare to explore and strive for continuous self-improvement in the field of computer science.
President Qiang shared his expectations for the new students: be “water” with a source, remaining grounded and clear-minded in diverse encounters; be “beachcombers” who ride the waves, engaging in hands-on practice and pursuing true knowledge through real-world experience; and be “coconut trees”, growing toward the light, rooted in the earth while reaching for the sky, and integrating personal striving into the broader context of national development.
In his speech at the ceremony, Ouyang Sihan, a representative of the first cohort, reflected on his three-year learning and growth journey within the joint program. He expressed his gratitude to the faculty from both universities, saying that with the support of these high-quality educational resources, he is ready to pursue further studies at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is a testament to the remarkable achievements of the joint program and its significant impact on talent development.
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This year marks the fourth year of the joint program between the two universities. Students have benefitted greatly from high-quality faculty from both institutions, combining the academic strengths of mainland China and Macao. The program pairs each student with a supervisor, allowing them to gain hands-on research experiences across fields such as cybersecurity testing, trusted data and AI, and medical artificial intelligence. At the same time, through the industry resources of the joint laboratories and internship opportunities, this program enables students to enhance both their research capabilities and practical industry experience. On the other hand, the international campus environment also effectively strengthens students’ cross-cultural communication skills. Their diverse practical experiences provide a solid foundation for postgraduate applications both at home and abroad, broadening their pathways for further study and career development.
Over the past editions, students actively participated in professional competitions, covering fields such as mathematical modelling, software development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and digital media, and have achieved outstanding results in national and provincial-level competitions—including the National First Prize in the National College Students Mathematical Modelling Competition. Students have also achieved notable research outcomes, including publications in academic journals and EI conference proceedings. They widely engaged in cutting-edge academic lectures, teaching and research activities, enterprise internships, off-campus visits, and campus events, all of which helped to enhance their teamwork capabilities.
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During the meeting, President Qiang Shigong and Rector Jun Liu delivered remarks on behalf of their respective institutions. Representatives in attendance engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including program operations, review of key teaching components, student management and services, and key objectives for the next phase. These laid a solid foundation for the continued deepening of the joint academic collaboration between the two universities.
Other attendees from CityU at the ceremony and meeting included Liu Wenjian and Chu Chia-Wei, associate deans of the Faculty of Data Science; Liu Chi, program coordinator; and Wu Cheng, head of the Office of Global Affairs.
