Cultural and Creative Industries Teaching and Research Centre
Cultural Connections • Sustained Development
Cultural and Creative Industries Teaching and Research Centre was established in 2016. The purpose of this centre is to promote the development of Macao's cultural and creative industries through teaching and research. The centre focuses on research hubs, community outreach, and industry-university-research/knowledge transfer. Since its establishment, the Cultural and Creative Industries Teaching and Research Centre has participated in a number of important activities and undertaken several research projects entrusted by the government.
In 2025, the Centre and Peking University jointly organized the "Exchange Program of Teachers and Students in University, Secondary and Primary Schools of Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China (University Student Project) -“Art Village Construction: Beyond Concepts - Yaoli Village Non-Fiction Creative Workshop”. The workshop included practical studying and a theoretical seminar. The practical study was about the theme of “village construction,” to encourage students to exercise creative thinking and work in teams to propose renovation plans and promote the integration of rural cultural industry. The theoretical seminar invited several professional teachers and designers to share their insights and provide guidance, helping students grasp practical methods and strategies for rural development. Associated Professor Wong In Nga shared “Macao’s Community Design Case Study” and delved into regional redevelopment cases in Macao, providing students with practical references to inspire more feasible rural revitalisation solutions.
Photo caption: MPU Teachers and Students Participate in the “Yaoli Village International Art Symbiosis Project Rural Social Design Workshop”
In 2024, the Centre and Peking University jointly organized the "Exchange Program of Teachers and Students in University, Secondary and Primary Schools of Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China (University Student Project) - “Art Village Construction: Beyond Concepts - Yaoli Village Non-Fiction Creative Workshop”. The workshop included theoretical lectures, cultural research, case visits, team learning, and simulated proposals to inspire students’ creative thinking and inject new vitality into rural development.
Photo caption: MPU Teachers and Students Participate in the “Art Village Construction: Beyond Concepts - Yaoli Village Non-Fiction Creative Workshop”
In 2023, the Centre and Peking University jointly organized the "Exchange Program of Teachers and Students in University, Secondary and Primary Schools of Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China (University Student Project) - Creative Design and Art Rural Construction Work Camp". This work camp was attention to the innovative discovery of local rural culture and creative development, stimulated students' creative thinking and vitality, deepened their understandings of the local customs and rural enchantment, provided new concepts and elements into rural development, as well as promoted the comprehensive revitalization and development of rural areas through cultures and arts.
In 2022, the center and Peking University jointly organized the "Exchange Program of Teachers and Students in University, Secondary and Primary Schools of Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China (University Student Project) with five themes namely "Art Exhibition in the Field", "Pre-operational Concepts and Thinking of Rural Planning Practice and Exploration", "Rural Community: Cultural Rural Construction and Aesthetic Governance", "Art Flag Sun, Glowing Urban- Rural Aesthetic Education Promotional Plan Model" and "Social Research of Art Creation and Public Art Spaces" .
The centre held the “Sustainable Power of Arts” International Forum on Contemporary Design, Arts and Culture. This forum focused on the multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary characteristics of contemporary design and art culture, exploring the integration of design and arts, promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation, and fostering the development of design education. In the form of an online forum, it strengthened exchanges and cooperation among scholars, artists, and designers from different countries and regions. They jointly discussed and solved problems in the field of design and art, promoting the development of global cultural diversity. By studying the development of contemporary international trends of thought, it aimed to advance the future art and design education, providing new perspectives and methods for higher education, and cultivating practitioners and researchers who can adapt to the future development of art and design.
To enhance students’ professional competence, creative thinking skills, and broaden their innovative horizons, the centre organised an “Exploring Architecture in the Digital Age” cultural creative salon seminar and workshop, discussed the application of digital technology in architectural art design and its implications for urban sustainable development. The event’s lively atmosphere attracted teachers and students from MPU and several secondary schools.
The centre held “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural and Creative Industries Market Overview and Development Workshop”, and completed the accreditation process as the support unit of “AdAsia 2021 Macao”. In order to achieve industry-university-research cooperation, the centre has co-operated with Student Affairs Office for “General Education Scheme”, including organizing the “Community Culture Lectures and Field Trip in the Old City of Macao”, “Academic Research Forum”, and the opening ceremony, award presentation ceremony and exhibition of the winning entries as a supporting unit of “2021 Golden Lotus International Competition For Students”. The centre has also held the 2021 “Contemporary Design and Visual Culture” International Academic Webinar which invited different universities (US, Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao) professors to share their experiences about arts and design with our students. Some of the activities are outlined below:
The 2021 “Contemporary Design and Visual Culture” International Academic Webinar has promoted art information and academic exchanges, with the local and overseas experts and scholars sharing their valuable experience and guidance to explore the academic development of contemporary design and visual culture. It was a great opportunity for the international community, teachers and students to learn about the connotations of design and visual culture in different regions, and was therefore welcomed by many domestic and foreign students from Macao Polytechnic University, University of Colorado Boulder, Peking University, The University of Hong Kong and The University of Tokyo.
In the activity of “Community Culture Lectures and Community Field Trip in the Old City of Macao”, the teachers and students visited and investigated The Nossa Senhora village, Coloane.
Through the comprehensive introduction and analysis of the cultural heritage of the old city of Macao, the participants were guided through practical examples from the design perspective to have a better understanding of the community culture of the old city.
Focusing on the goals and tasks of the national overall plan, the local “14th Five-Year Plan” and departmental plans, the center actively implements the specific implementation measures of cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and promotes the exploration of institutional innovations, such as inviting universities and outstanding enterprises to visit the center and establish good cooperation and communication relations.
At the same time, the center complies with the support of the Macao SAR government and integrates into the overall situation of national science and technology and innovation development to comprehensively enhance cultural innovation capabilities, and conduct relevant inspections and exploration activities in talent training and transformation of innovation achievements, hoping to build a new system of high-level openness with the integration of Macao.
Reference:
[1] Xinhua News Agency. The 14th Five-Year Plan for the National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and Long-Range Objectives through to the Year 2035[J].
[2] Xinhua News Agency. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council issued the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”[J].
[3] Xinhua News Agency. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council issued the “Plan for Building Construction of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin” [J].