A smoke-free environment is beneficial to the health of both university members and visitors. According to the Regime of Tobacco Prevention and Control (Law No. 5/2011 as amended by Law No. 9/2017) in Macao, smoking is prohibited in all indoor and outdoor areas on campus to create a fresher and cleaner atmosphere.
Life-long learning is beneficial to enriching life and career. The University strives to foster a life-long learning culture in the community and worldwide. Demonstrating a keen interest in and strong capacity for life-long learning is one of the attributes with which the University is committed to cultivate its graduates. Globally-downloadable mobile apps and online platforms are developed, motivating users to learn freely and effectively around the world. A wide spectrum of outreach educational activities is offered to the community in the forms of vocational training, seminars, and conferences. These online learning resources and outreach educational activities are accessible to all public learners regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion or other characteristics.
A culture of diversity, equality and inclusion is promoted through regular cultural exchange activities, diverse work languages, as well as a diversified campus community. The University is committed to promoting equal opportunities in academic and professional pursuits for both staff and students on campus. The Framework Law on Employment Policy and Worker’s Rights (Law No. 40/95/M) and the Regulations for Securing Equal Opportunities and Treatment for both Male and Female Employees (Decree-law No. 52/95/M) are practised at the University together with its Personnel Charter. Any form of discrimination based on ethnicity, colour, religion, sexuality, gender, disability and age in study and work environment shall not be tolerated. The University shall take all necessary actions to eliminate, prevent and end the occurrence of discrimination, fostering mutual respect and discrimination-free environment in student life and the workplace.
Living Wage
The employee pay scheme governed by the University’s Personnel Charter is formulated according to the pay scale of the Macao government. Employees are secured with remuneration that far exceeds the Macao statutory minimum wage as well as the local living wage level, being capable of supporting a living style of reasonable quality. The pay scale is calculated using index points* rather than the actual monetary amounts. The monetary value of an index point is reviewed by the Macao government annually to ensure a sustainable pay scale.
* The housing subsidies provided to staff members are also defined in index points following the same review process by the Macao government and updated in the same pace as a result of housing affordability evaluation. The ratio of the current housing allowance to Macao's minimum monthly subsistence index is 84%.
Pay Scale Equity
The University is committed to creating a fair workplace with equal pay for work of equal value for women and men. The University shall take initiatives to improve gender equality outcomes and ensure pay scale equity, including measurement and elimination of gender pay gaps. The pay scheme stated above is categorised by rank and job position for academic and non-academic staff on the basis of a transparent and informative system. Consistent criteria are used in determining the terms and conditions of employment for the treatment of women and men performing work of equal value. An annual analysis is performed to observe the gender pay scale balance across various ranks and job positions.
Ethical Practices and Anti-Slavery
The University is committed to combatting modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and child labour are unethical and crimes in essence. The University is committed to be ethical in all of its dealings in compliance with relevant legal regimes and conventions. The Law for Combatting the Crime of Trafficking in Persons are in force in Macao. The Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour are applicable to Macao. At the university, employment practices are governed by the University’s Personnel Charter, which specifies transparent recruitment procedures, the standard working hours, and the legal age for employment (18 or above, i.e. adulthood) amongst other rules and regulations, ensuring that any forms of modern slavery are not taking place in the University.
Employee Rights
The University is dedicated to protecting the rights of all employees, recognising it as an essential component of an equitable workplace. This commitment extends to all employees, including women and international staff. Adhering to government legislation and international standards, the University aims to create an inclusive and equitable environment where every staff member can thrive.
Employee Feedback and Appeal
The University has in place employee feedback and appeal mechanisms to collect employees’ feedback and ensure their rights are protected. Employees are able to provide their feedback through various approaches. The rights and obligations of employees as well as relevant appeal procedures are stipulated in the University’s Personnel Charter, which is accessible online. Cases of appeal are handled following the processes described in the Personnel Charter.
Equivalent Rights for Outsourcing Activities
The University strives to provide a safe and healthy working environment to its employees and outsourced workers, and is committed to exercising due care when considering outsourcing proposals. Equivalent rights, fair compensation and treatment for workers employed by outsourcing providers are ensured through the implementation of proper mechanisms for selection and performance monitoring as a mandatory requirement. In compliance with the Macao legal requirements, regulations protecting rights of outsourced workers are stipulated in every release of the University’s tender notice, which is a legal practice to start the procedures for outsourcing services. The tender notice serves as an integral part of the outsourcing contract and any violation to the terms and conditions will be handled through a legal approach. Such inclusion emphasises that outsourced service providers must fulfil the legal requirements of paying a reasonable (at least above minimum) wage and provide employment that is free of discrimination and that guarantees legal rights of workers.
The University has no tolerance for all illegal behaviours such as organized crime, corruption and bribery. All university members are required to follow the established codes of conduct and abide by the laws. Cases of misconduct shall be handled seriously in compliance with relevant procedural regulations. Cases where the misconduct is of criminal nature shall be reported to the judicial authorities.
The University subscribes to the ethos of academic freedom, which includes freedom of research and teaching. Academics, both junior and senior, are encouraged to share or disseminate knowledge and expertise about their areas of scholarship. This could include sharing research findings, participating in public discourse, and contributing to the community, thereby enhancing the role of the University in society. Academics and students are both expected to adhere to ethical standards and engage in scholarly work that is honest and rigorous, presenting their ideas in a respectful and thoughtful manner. By fostering an environment where diverse ideas can be exchanged and explored, the University upholds the values of inquiry, creativity, and respect that are fundamental to learning and discovery.
Sustainable catering and supplies help to bring positive environmental impacts, a supply of healthy and nutritionally balanced food, as well as productive purchasing process, introducing eco-friendly habits onto the campus. Each procedure throughout the supply chain, including sourcing, consumption and disposal, shall be monitored and managed in such a way that considers environmental and social impacts, and benefits to the community. The following policies apply to all catering and procurement process handled within the University:
All internal units, contractors and outsourced service providers work together to minimise the use of single-use plastic and disposable items.
The most commonly used plastic includes straws, bags, cups, food containers, cutlery and bottles. For catering services, disposable utensils and plastic bags will be charged and will only be provided upon request, encouraging diners to bring reusable utensils and containers. Drinking fountains are installed around campus to encourage users to bring their own water bottles. The Catering Service Workgroup monitors caterer’s operations and impose environmental-friendly policies where possible. These minimisation policies extend to the campus’ outsourced services, outsourced suppliers and supply chain.
The following ‘go green’ tactics are adopted for reducing disposable items:
These minimisation policies extend to the campus’ outsourced services, outsourced suppliers and supply chain.
Waste disposal is managed with safety and health concerns. All units are responsible for the safety of waste to be disposed of, with advice from the Campus Maintenance and Development Office. Such policies extend to the regulations of the University’s outsourced services, with terms and conditions being included in the contracts.
The following principles outline the ethical responsibilities for environmental practices regarding waste and resources management:
The amount of waste generated, recycled, and sent to landfill shall be measured across campus in order to evaluate the performance of waste disposal and management on campus.
General Waste Disposal
Hazardous Waste Disposal
Pedestrian Priority on Campus
The University prioritises pedestrian access on campus. There are pedestrian sidewalks with sufficient space and width for providing users a safe and comfortable environment. Pedestrian zones are designed to connect main buildings on campus. Visitors can reach all locations within the campus by walking.
New Build Standards
Environmental sustainability is embedded in all university activities, including construction and refurbishment projects. Such projects shall meet the national sustainable standards set by the China Green Building Council where possible, and comply with the legal requirements on construction waste disposal (Administrative Regulations No. 22/2020) set by the Macao government. All standards must be explicitly written in the tender notice and contracts to guarantee contractors’ compliance.
New Build on Brownfield Sites
Brownfield sites shall be prioritised where possible for new build campus development. Taking the University’s latest new building as an example, this building is currently being constructed on a brownfield site at the Macao campus. The new building will be equipped with solar panels to support the supply of electricity for use in the building and energy-efficient infrastructure to reduce overall energy consumption and carbon emission, achieving the targets of environmental sustainability.
INVESTMENT POLICY
The university is committed to environmental sustainability and will take the following actions with regards to its investment portfolio:
The university implements the following guidelines for accepting donations and external funding:
Latest update | 07 November 2024