Rector Jun Liu shares insights on internationalization in higher education at AULP annual meeting in São Tomé and Príncipe
In order to expand exchanges with universities and institutions in Portuguese-speaking countries, explore new mechanisms for talent cultivation, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and increase the international influence of Macao’s higher education, Professor Jun Liu, Rector of City University of Macau, recently attended the 32nd annual meeting of the Association of Portuguese Speaking Universities (Associação das Universidades de Língua Portuguesa, AULP). During the meeting, he delivered a keynote speech in which he provided insights into internationalization in higher education.
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This year’s edition focused on three major themes: “Environmental Challenges”, “Benefits of the Blue Economy”, and “Education, Language, and Inclusive Development.” The event was convened at the National Convention Center of São Tomé and Príncipe. During the meeting, Rector Jun Liu delivered a keynote speech titled “Comprehensive Internationalization in Higher Education for Portuguese-Speaking Countries.” According to him, higher education plays a pivotal role in promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. He pointed out that internationalization of higher education is a comprehensive process that infuses an international and intercultural dimension into the main functions of universities, such as teaching, learning, research, and social services.
During his speech, Rector Jun Liu elaborated on the ten major characteristics and proposed four core indicators of internationalization in higher education. The four core indicators include:
- Institutional support and implementation of feasible internationalization measures;
- Carrying out international projects and promoting active engagement and participation of faculty and students to broaden horizons;
- Attracting international talent and gathering teaching and research fellows with international perspectives and backgrounds as the driving force to lead internationalization projects;
- Considering the important role and impact of internationalization in the process of talent cultivation in the development of internationalization in universities.
Rector Jun Liu emphasized the important role of English as the language of instruction and stressed the need to foster students’ English proficiency and communication skills at all levels. He also highlighted the importance of promoting international exchanges and visits for both students and teaching members and advancing the cultivation of international talents. According to him, Macao has an open and inclusive environment with harmonious interactions between different cultures and languages. “City University of Macau is accelerating the implementation of international development measures, based on the long-term development positioning of ‘One Center, One Platform, One Base’ in Macao. It is collaborating with universities in Portuguese-speaking countries with better quality curricula and diverse policies, and creating more international exchange and learning platforms and opportunities for its teaching members and students,” he said.
In conclusion, Rector Liu emphasized the crucial role of AULP in promoting international cooperation and academic exchange among its member universities, and in fostering the development of higher education in Portuguese-speaking countries. He expressed his hope that AULP members will continue to cooperate with sincerity and devotion, strengthen the connection between member universities and society and corporations, empower cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in higher education, fully embody the teaching value in the process of talent cultivation, and contribute to social development.
During the meeting, Rector Liu discussed potential cooperation for promoting the internationalization of higher education with university presidents and provosts from Portuguese-speaking countries, including Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Cabo Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe, based on the AULP mechanism.
