In order to strengthen the connections with Portuguese institutions of higher education and implement the mechanism of academic exchange by way of mutual visits, the School of Public Administration and the Student Affairs Office on behalf of Macao Polytechnic Institute (“MPI” or the “Institute”) recently received a group of representatives from the University of Coimbra (the “University”) in Portugal and held a fruitful discussion with the visiting professors and students. Led by Professor António José Mendes, who oversees the University’s foreign exchange programmes, the group comprised a sports coach and students of various academic disciplines. As soon as they arrived in Macao, a week-long schedule of academic and cultural exchange intermingled with sports training sessions began. The purpose of their visit was to facilitate the mutual communication and deepen the bilateral relationship in the hope of exploring greater avenues for cooperation.

The MPI Vice President, Professor Im Sio Kei Marcus, remarked that the Institute and the University have been closely cooperating on numerous academic subjects and scientific fronts, and that the agreements on student exchange programmes entered into between the two universities cover a wide range of degree programmes. In the future, MPI will continue fostering close ties with other Portuguese institutions of higher education, bettering the pedagogy in all academic disciplines, and encouraging its undergraduates to seize the many opportunities offered by MPI to study abroad. In so doing, MPI reasonably expects that its students can expand their horizon and embrace the global perspectives, hence becoming more capable of contributing to the development of Macao as the platform of cooperation between Lusophone countries and China.

The discussion with the University’s representatives was enthusiastically attended by MPI’s international and exchange students who major in, among other disciplines, computing and Portuguese-Chinese translation. Professor Mendes said that the University is one of the largest international student communities in Portugal, with approximately 16% of its students coming from 90 different countries and regions and including the Institute’s. He further described the partnership between the Institute and the University as smooth and seamless. In response, the MPI representative appreciated the University for all the contributions they had made for facilitating the exchange between Lusophone countries and China, and anticipated that both institutions would continue furthering their professorial and student exchange, project collaboration and seminar co-organisation. The discussion progressed in a candid and convivial atmosphere, where students of both institutions actively engaged with each other in constructive dialogues and shared their learning and living experiences.

During their visit, apart from participating in the discussion with MPI’s students and, upon the Institute’s invitation, giving professional comments on its master degree programmes pending implementation as well as its new research proposals, the University’s representatives also experienced first-hand the Institute’s fitness and gym equipment by undergoing daily track and field training and fitness drills, and played a friendly badminton match with MPI’s professors and students.  Since their visit coincided with the “2017 Macau Open Badminton, Part of the BWF Grand Prix Gold Series”, the representatives fully embraced the chance and watched the semi-final rounds, being excited that they could witness a sports event of such significance.