MPU has strategically focused on utilising its educational excellence to enhance sustainable development between China and Portuguese-speaking nations. Ramping up its research in technologies and interdisciplinary studies, the University aims to contribute meaningfully to sustainable progress. This effort aligns with the broader goals of international higher education institutions dedicated to promoting sustainability.
In line with the policies outlined in the “Second Five-Year Development Plan (2021-2025) for Economic and Social Development of the Macao SAR, ” MPU played a proactive role in the 13th Portuguese-speaking Higher Education Forum (FORGES), held in Portugal last November. MPU joined a significant network for sustainability development in higher education in Portuguese-speaking countries and regions, comprising 34 institutions from Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, East Timor, and more. This strategic partnership strengthens Macao’s pivotal role as a bridge between China and the Portuguese-speaking world.
Partnering with Lusophone Higher Education Institutions to Advance a Sustainable Society
The forum’s global influence was highlighted by a congratulatory message from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal during its opening ceremony. The MPU delegation, including Dr. Lei Ngan Lin, Vice Rector; Associate Professor Zhang Yunfeng, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation; and Professor Joaquim Carvalho, Programme Coordinator of PhD in Portuguese, presented Macao’s strategies for sustainable higher education and economic diversification, demonstrating MPU’s global academic presence and foresight.
Opening ceremony guests of the 13th Portuguese-speaking Higher Education Forum included Pedro Teixeira, Secretary of State for Higher Education of Portugal, Margarida Mano, Chair of the Forum, and MPU delegation
The inauguration of the “Sustainability Network of Higher Education Institutions in Portuguese-speaking Countries” aims to support the United Nations 2030 Agenda for a sustainable future. With a wide geographic reach, universities and organisations from various continents connect and advocate for sustainable thinking in higher education in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In the forum, discussions revolved around the role of universities in “fostering a fair and sustainable world” and “how Portuguese-speaking areas can jointly formulate higher education strategies.” Participants from these institutions actively shared insights across ten sub-forums focusing on sustainability in higher education and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Taking advantage of the sustainability network, the collaboration between MPU and networking institutions brings a positive outlook towards achieving global sustainability goals: embracing sustainability values, implementing sustainability actions, disseminating knowledge, deepening collaboration, and advancing technology transfer. Collectively, they strive to become paragons of sustainable development. Being an exemplar of sustainable development, this international network facilitates MPU to leverage its academic strengths to achieve its development vision.
Gaining International Recognition Through Innovative Achievements
MPU continues to showcase its research capabilities and innovative model for nurturing talent through the development of cutting-edge technologies and research ventures co-developed with universities worldwide. Significant progress has been achieved in the study of artificial intelligence, integrating research areas spanning healthcare, education, cultural preservation, and environmental protection. MPU established the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Driven Drug Discovery and the Joint Research Laboratory in Advanced Technologies for Smart Cities in collaboration with the University of Coimbra in Portugal. In addition, the Joint Research Centre in Ubiquitous Computing, co-established by MPU and the University of California, Los Angeles, in the United States, is also one of the numerous ventures. These research infrastructures provide an environment for groundbreaking research and the cultivation of interdisciplinary talent with an international perspective.
Canarin, the environmental technology developed by the faculty and student team from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, was shortlisted in the top eight of the Times Higher Education Awards Asia
One of MPU’s notable innovations is Canarin, a cloud-based system for real-time environmental monitoring developed by students and faculty members from the Faculty of Applied Sciences. This system was shortlisted as a top-eight finalist in the Times Higher Education Awards Asia this year. Canarin effectively monitors environmental quality data, thus assisting in the conservation of cultural heritage. It is currently being used in world cultural heritage sites such as the Joanina Library in Portugal and the Bologna city area. Additionally, the Chinese-Portuguese Neural Network Machine Translation Platform and the Chinese-Portuguese-English Voice Recognition and Simultaneous Interpretation System are widely applied in local government departments as well as enterprises in China and Portuguese-speaking countries, promoting intercultural communication and economic exchanges in China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
These initiatives have cemented MPU’s role in promoting the development of innovative applications and contributing to global well-being through international partnerships. Ongoing cooperation and research in drug discovery powered by artificial intelligence, smart city technologies, and beyond enable MPU to fulfil the mission of nurturing future global talents and creating a more sustainable future.
MPU Members Decorated by the Macao SAR Government for Outstanding Achievements
Forging New Heights in International Academic Collaboration with Portuguese-speaking Countries