António Manuel da Cruz Serra (3rd left), Rector of University of Lisbon, visited MPI.

University of Lisbon and MPI representatives discuss academic collaboration such as joint publication of Portuguese teaching materials.

To promote academic collaboration in the field of Portuguese language, Professor António Manuel da Cruz Serra and Professor João Barreiros, respectively Rector and Vice-Rector of the highest academic institution in Portugal, the University of Lisbon (ULisboa), visited Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) on June 17. The delegation was warmly received by Professor Lei Heong Iok, President of MPI. The two parties reached consensus on reinforcing cooperation in the field of Portuguese language, Public Management, and Education between the Chinese Mainland, Portugal and Macao, and on contributing to Macao’s strategic development as “a trade and economic cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries” and “a Portuguese language teaching platform in the Asia-Pacific Region”.

Professor Lei extended his gratitude for ULisboa’s continuing support for MPI’s development. Extensive collaborations over the past decade have included exchanges of academic staff, joint-offering of Master’s courses and seminars, collaboration for academic accreditation, and joint-publication of teaching materials. Each collaboration project had achieved gratifying results.

Professor António Manuel da Cruz Serra noted that MPI is a key strategic partner of ULisboa as there is a diversified and fruitful academic collaboration for both parties. He pointed out that the rapid development of trading and cultural exchanges between Portugal and China brought about a drastic increase in the demand for Portuguese language learning and other courses on the Chinese Mainland. ULisboa expected to work closely with MPI to contribute to Portuguese teacher training on the Chinese Mainland, as well as the training of students and compilation of teaching materials.

During the meeting it was agreed that the two parties would foster cooperation in the field of Portuguese language, Public Management and Education to enhance academic and cultural exchanges among the Chinese Mainland, Portugal, and Macao. They would also cultivate more bilingual talents in Chinese and Portuguese for the Mainland, Macao and the world, and contribute to Macao’s strategic development as “a trade and economic cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries” and “a Portuguese language teaching platform in the Asia-Pacific Region”.