To correspond with China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, and the development of “One Center, One Platform and One Base” in Macao, the Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) has been actively bringing cultural diversity to its campus to enhance the international competitiveness of university students. This academic year, a variety of internal and external activities have been organised to promote whole person development and cultural integration. The activities have attracted not only local and mainland students, but also students from Portuguese-speaking countries such as Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe to participate, which have helped students to live a full and happy university life under the normalized anti-epidemic measures.

Aline, a recent graduate from Cape Verde majoring in Public Administration, is particularly impressed with MPI. She said that the faculty members were dedicated and helpful, and that students learned a great deal from them in terms of knowledge and professionalism. During her studies at MPI, Aline actively participated in extracurricular activities organized by MPI to experience the essence of Chinese culture.  She learned how to wrap dumplings and how to write Spring Festival couplets with students from different places. Not only did she have the opportunity to try traditional Chinese martial arts for the first time to strengthen her body, as well as learning about the Chinese tea ceremony, but also learned how to cultivate her moral character to improve her physical and mental well-being. Aline will be studying in the Mainland upon her graduation, and she added that if she had the chance to decide again, she would definitely choose to study at MPI once more. Students of the International Chinese Language Education Programme, Henrique and Sara, who came from Brazil and Portugal respectively, said that MPI provides a harmonious atmosphere where Chinese and Western cultures meet, which enable young people of different cultural backgrounds to exchange and learn.  They gave thanks to MPI for offering them a variety of exciting campus activities, so that they can closely experience the charm of local culture and cultivate their interest in traditional Chinese culture.

The Student Affairs Office always focuses on providing rich and diversified activities to promote the all-round development of students and young people. The aim of all these activities is to enhance the overall quality of experience and exposure of students from Portuguese-speaking countries to Chinese culture and to allow international students to make the best use of their time in Macao to learn more about traditional Chinese culture. This month, the Student Affairs Office will organize “Have Fun with MPI│Summer Outdoor Activities” to encourage students to make good use of their leisure time to build up their physical fitness, so as to achieve mutual communication and harmony.

Henrique (first from the left), an international student of MPI, visited the large-scale photo exhibition "The 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China"

Aline (first from right), an international student from MPI, experienced the essence of Chinese culture