Passing the torch, forging ahead: CityU marks 45th Anniversary Ceremony and Conferment Ceremony of Honorary Degrees

 

The City University of Macau (CityU) held its 45th Anniversary Ceremony and Conferment Ceremony of Honorary Degrees at the Cultural Centre, Taipa Campus today (March 28). The event was streamed live online and was officiated by distinguished guests. They were Ho Hau Wah, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); O Lam, representative of the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture; Lyu Yuyin, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR; Cheng Lei, deputy commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the MSAR; Chen Dali, deputy director-general of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affair Office) of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China; Kong Chi Meng, director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ); Wong King Keung, co-founder of the University of East Asia and honorary chairman of the University Council; Chan Meng Kam, chancellor and chairman of the University Council; and Rector Jun Liu.

 

This ceremony was attended by government officials, members of the Legislative Assembly, consul-generals in Macao, leaders from higher education institutions and secondary schools across various regions, representatives from social organizations, members of the University Foundation and University Council, as well as alumni representatives, faculty, and students.

During the ceremony, CityU conferred honorary doctorates upon three distinguished individuals: Professor Thomas C. Südhof, Academician Guan Xiaohong and Professor Mark P. Becker.

 

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In the morning, CityU held a flag-raising ceremony on the Taipa Campus to mark its 45^th anniversary. The ceremony served as a solemn beginning to kick off the anniversary celebrations and expressed the affection and blessings of the CityU community for the nation and the Macao SAR.

 

Rector Jun Liu reflected on the 45-year journey of CityU in his address. He mentioned that, since the founding of its predecessor, the University of East Asia, CityU has been serving the nation and the city where "one country, two systems" has been successfully implemented, through responding to the national deployment of the 15th Five-Year Plan, implementing the philosophy of coordinated development of education, technology, and talent, supporting Macao's "1+4" appropriately diversified development strategy, and promoting the integration of Hengqin and Macao. He stressed the University’s development path of “humanities and social sciences as the foundation, artificial intelligence as the support, and interdisciplinary studies as the direction” to cultivate pragmatic talents with a sense of national patriotism, and strived to forge a path of university development that emphasizes “Macao’s Characteristics, China’s Soul and Global Vision”, while integrating into and serving the national development landscape.

 

Rector Jun Liu pointed out that CityU takes “interdisciplinary studies” as its strategic lead and adopts an innovative mechanism that integrates patriotic education throughout the entire talent cultivation process, while implementing an integrated approach combing “general education, professional training, and practical experience”. He then mentioned CityU’s advancement in internationalization, with its international academic influence continuing to grow. He highlighted the University's entries in the THE World University Rankings and the QS Asia University Rankings, with its “Social Sciences, General” and Engineering disciplines entering the global top 1% in the ESI; additionally, the “Hospitality & Tourism Management”, along with Economics, have both been recognized in the Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. Rector Liu said that CityU has a diverse faculty team that blends Eastern and Western perspectives, comprising distinguished scholars from over 20 countries and regions, and highlighted that the University maintains close collaboration with more than 200 renowned higher education institutions worldwide, providing a broad platform for exchange and collaboration to cultivate outstanding talents with a global vision.

Rector Liu mentioned that research and innovation serve as a powerful engine that drives the sustainable growth of the University, with academic output seeing significant improvements in both quantity and quality. Leveraging the “Knowledge Transfer Center” as a core platform, he mentioned that the University has advanced an integrated service system covering “technical screening, concept validation,  industry-academia collaboration, cross‑border transformation”. In addition, Rector Liu also highlighted the establishment of the City University of Macau Advanced Research Institute (Hengqin) in Hengqin, extending its research innovation and outcome translation efforts into the Greater Bay Area.Rector Liu highlighted the R&D projects in the field of smart healthcare, including the AI‑assisted flexible surgical robot and a coronary angiography recognition and diagnostic system, both of which are now engaged in intensive collaboration with hospitals in Macao and across the country; in smart education, the “Smart Education Cloud Platform for Primary and Secondary Schools in Macao” has been applied in multiple local schools; in social services, initiatives such as emotional companion robots, the Senior Academy, and the Future Academy are harnessing technology to support the elderly and help the general public enhance technological literacy.

 

DSEDJ Director Kong Chi Meng highlighted that CityU has become a key higher education institution in the region. He noted that under the “one country, two systems” principle, CityU responds to national strategies and aligns with Macao’s appropriately diversified development strategy by optimizing its academic structure, launching cutting-edge programs, and promoting the integration of technological and industrial innovation. Through extensive industry-academia collaboration and the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries, he highlighted CityU’s contribution to the Belt and Road initiative; and through and the Senior Academy to provide diverse learning opportunities to the elderly. Looking ahead, he expressed hope that CityU will seize the opportunities of the new technological and industrial revolutions to further contribute to the Greater Bay Area and national development, advancing innovation and excellence in talent cultivation.

 

 

Professor Mark P. Becker, representing this’s year honorary doctors, noted that the strength of a university lies in its ability to adapt and grow, and that the cross-cultural and interdisciplinary mindset of its faculty and students is key to achieving high-quality development. He expressed his firm belief that CityU will become a vital engine for cultivating high-level talent in the Greater Bay Area and looked forward to even greater accomplishments for CityU in the future.

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Others representatives also shared their experiences and insights gained at CityU, including Faculty representative Max Kuok Weng Tak, associate professor from the Faculty of Data Science, alumni representative Dr. Danilo Afonso Henriques, deputy secretary-general of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao); and student representative Xiao Yaning, a doctoral student from the School of Education. They expressed their deep affection for CityU and extended their best wishes, demonstrating a shared vision and firm commitment of faculty, students, and alumni in building the future together.

 

 

In addition, the “Future Academy” has officially established during the ceremony. Designed to aligns with national strategies of technological self-reliance and innovation‑driven development, as well as the Macao SAR Government’s integrated approach to education, science and technology, and talent, together with the “1+4” appropriately diversified development strategy. Centered on forward‑looking technology and interdisciplinary teaching, the Academy promotes lifelong learning and focuses on cultivating talent in technology and innovation, driving Macao’s economic growth, smart city development, and the integrated advancement of the Guangdong‑Macao In‑depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

 

Leveraging CityU’s disciplinary strengths, the Academy offers systematic, cutting‑edge micro‑major programs related to general artificial intelligence. These programs enhance technological literacy for students and will be extended to Macao residents and working professionals, establishing a coherent AI general education system with distinctive Macao characteristics. The first two micro‑major programs, “AI Open Courses” and “Information Security Open Courses”, restructure knowledge from an interdisciplinary perspective, helping learners seize opportunities in the digital era and strengthen their competitiveness and innovative capabilities.

 

During the 45^th Anniversary Gala Dinner, representatives from various higher education institutions and alumni associations presented commemorative gifts to the university, extending their heartfelt wishes for CityU’s 45^th anniversary. A series of performances blending traditional and modern elements, as well as Eastern and Western cultures, were presented by faculty and students. Chinese and Western instruments such as the piano, guzheng, and erhu complemented each other, while the CityU Art Troupe staged a song and dance performance titled “Soul of China, Charm of Chinese Culture” and a percussion ensemble piece, “Soaring Dragon and Leaping Tiger”. The robot performance brought by the Faculty of Data Science combined artificial intelligence with the celebratory atmosphere of the anniversary, showcasing CityU’s achievements in cultivating technology talent and cross-cultural innovation, and adding a distinctive highlight to the evening.[foogallery id="105600"]