To strengthen Sino-Portuguese higher education cooperation, Professor Im Sio Kei, Rector of Macau Polytechnic University (MPU), led a delegation to visit the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Instituto Politécnico de Leiria) in Portugal. The delegation was warmly received by Vice-Rector Graça Poças Santos and the academic leadership team. Both sides witnessed the achievements made in cultivating talent in Chinese-Portuguese translation and business, and reached a consensus on deepening academic collaboration in the future, opening a new chapter in the cooperation for fostering talent in these fields.

During the meeting, Rectorr Im Sio Kei acknowledged the fruitful results of the partnership between the two institutions. This productive collaboration has nurtured numerous outstanding bilingual professionals in Chinese and Portuguese, providing strong support for Macau’s role as a “Sino-Portuguese Platform.” In the future, the cooperation will be further expanded into new areas such as artificial intelligence language technology and intercultural studies, aiming for in-depth collaboration in cutting-edge fields. A diversified international talent training system will be established, offering students more overseas learning opportunities. During the visit, the MPU delegation also met with students enrolled in Chinese-Portuguese translation and business degree programmes at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, and the atmosphere was joyful and cordial.

Vice-Rector Graça Poças Santos highly praised the value of the cooperation between the two institutions. This intercontinental academic partnership is a testament to their successful international collaboration and has played a significant role in deepening cultural exchanges between Portugal and China. Through ongoing faculty and student exchanges and joint research, the two institutions have established a distinctive international talent cultivation model, setting a fine example for higher education cooperation between Portugal and Macau.

Looking back at the history of cooperation, the two institutions have walked together for nearly two decades since signing the cooperation agreement in 2006 and launching the student exchange programme in 2007. Through systematic faculty and student exchanges, joint curriculum development, and academic seminars, the quality of talent cultivation has been significantly enhanced, while also promoting innovation and integration in educational concepts. This deepening partnership has become a successful example of international higher education collaboration, making active contributions to Sino-Portuguese cultural exchange and educational cooperation. Attendees at the meeting included José Carlos Marques, Dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria; Marta Alexandre, Head of the Department of Language and Literature; Fausto Caels, Director of the Chinese-Portuguese/Portuguese-Chinese Translation and Interpreting Programme; Catarina Mangas, Director of the Chinese-Portuguese Business Relations Programme; and Alexandre Soares, Director of the Dean’s Office. From Macau Polytechnic University, Professor Joaquim Ramos de Carvalho, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation, and Ms. Cheong Weng Lam, Director of the Academic Affairs Office, accompanied the MPU delegation during the visit.