Ensino e Aprendizagem

The Bachelor of Arts in Music is a four-year full-time degree programme. It is the first and only tertiary music programme in Macao. The programme provides two specialisations: “Music Education" and "Music Performance". Students may choose either one as their major. The curriculum is committed to nurturing students’ ability of music performance, music teaching and research studies with high moral integrity and critical thinking. This programme has been successfully accredited by the Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT).

The objective of the programme is to educate all-round music professionals with well-balanced capability both in music performance and in music teaching and research. Students will be able to gain an understanding of the functions, concepts, structures and values of music in addition to acquiring musical techniques (both instrumental and vocal). They will also be equipped to think and work independently and creatively in their own field of intesrest in the discipline of music.

The programme covers a wide range of topics and approaches, including various musical cultures and traditions of Macao, maintaining local cultural characteristics to international trends. All the staff members are committed to help the students reach a high level of musical and intellectual development. Upon completion of the programme, students are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes in terms of academic contents, disciplinary skills, and attributes. Graduates would be able to work as instrumentalists, singers, performers, music teachers in different educational settings (especially in primary and secondary schools), and other music-related professions.

Academic contents 學術內容

Disciplinary skills‐ able to 學科技能

Attributes 特質

Mapping of Graduate Attributes to Programme Intended Learning Outcomes & Learning Modules 
畢業生理想特質與課程預期學習成效及學科單元之關聯表

Through lectures, demonstrations, individual instrumental/vocal lessons, study trips, and other learning opportunities, students will acquire the learning outcomes expected from individual learning modules. Renowned maestros are invited on campus regularly to hold master classess, performances, seminars and workshops, of which students can make full use to enhance their musical techniques and interpretation. Study trips and performance opportunities are available in Macao and other countries/regions, such as Portugal, the United States, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. These learning opportunies enable students to acquire stage experience and hands-on performing skills. Students specialised in music education will also receive teaching practices in primary and secondary schools. All these learning opportunities are to help students lay a solid foundation for their future music careers.

The programme schedules an annual examination board which considers all student academic profiles and agrees classifications and progression routes. Generally, theorectical modules are assessed by a combination of assignments, presentations, projects, tests and examinations. Practical modules are assessed by music performances in classes and final examinations. Explicit guidance on coursework requirement for each module is given, emphasising approaches to coursework of various types and how to avoid plagiarism, together with rules and procedures. Examinations are typically of a two-hour paper undertaken at the end of each semester. Examination papers will be reviewed by internal moderators and then by external examiners. All examination papers go through a moderation marking procedure. Samples of three examination answer sheets (high, medium and low grades) are sent to the external examiners for quality control. Instrumental/vocal external examiners will also participate in instrumental/vocal examinations. Re-sit exam will be given to students who fail their first attempt at the end of each semester. Re-sit marks are capped at 50%. Normally, students who fail again in the re-sit examination or those who fail to meet attendance requirement will be required to repeat the failed modules.

This is a 4-year bachelor's degree programme. Students are required to acquire 126 credits in order to graduate. Students are required to choose one specialisation between "Music Education" and "Music Performance". Students specialised in "Music Education" are required to complete 90-hour teaching practicum respectively in a primary and a secondary school in addition to a graduation thesis before graduation. Students specialised in "Music Performance" are required to perform in the graduation concert as a capstone experience.

According to Article 3 of Academic Regulations Governing Bachelor's Degree Programmes of MPU,

1. An applicant shall be considered for admission to a bachelor’s degree programme of the University if s/he 
   a) holds a qualification not lower than Grade 12 or the equivalent, and
   b) fulfils other admission criteria prescribed by the programme of study concerned.
    
2. An applicant of age 23 or above, proven to possess relevant capabilities (especially in the entrance examination(s) of MPU), shall be considered for admission to a bachelor’s degree programme with a waiver on the requirement in item a) of above point.

Each student is allocated a year tutor who provides general academic and pastoral support throughout the four years of study. Year tutors are the first point of contact in matters stated above. Various communication channels are available for students to express their opinions and suggestions, such as via their respective year tutors, student representatives, programme coordinators and assistant programme coordinators, and dialogue meetings on different levels. The dialogue meetings serve as platforms for consultation and discussion between students and respective personnel ranging from the programme, the faculty, the academic support and administrative units, to the university management. Feedback is made by respective personnel to every issue raised by the students during the meeting with follow-up actions tracked. Student surveys are conducted in every learning module on a semesterly basis to collect students' opinions regarding the delivery of the modules. User satisfaction surveys are conducted annually on central student services. Feedback collected via these surveys will be followed up by the faculty or respective departments.

Students will receive an orientation about their four years of study at the beginning of the first year. Year tutors are appointed to individual students upon admission to provide academic and pastoral support throughout the period of study in the programme. Students may seek academic advices from their year tutors or programme coordinators regarding their learning path/plan and registration of learning modules. In individual learning modules, the instructors' office hours and contact information are made accessible to students for any questions regarding their study. Students' learning engagement and performance will be reviewed on a regular basis by year tutors and programme coordinators to identify learning needs and provide relevant support. Students' learning performance and progression will also be reviewed by the programme examination board to ensure their learning is adequately supported and their progress is on track. In addition, counselling services, careers services and student support services are accessible to all students through the Student Affairs Office. A wide variety of extracurricular activities (e.g. seminars, workshops, exchange opportunities, fieldtrips etc.) are available via the Student Affairs Office. Students may make full use of the variety of learning oppportunities, both curricular and extracurricular, to develop their academic and holistic capabilities for their future careers or further studies.

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Macao Polytechnic University has in place a university-wide policy to ensure that all student needs are taken care of and a supportive and accessible learning environment is maintained. When cases of special needs are notified or identified, special arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis with the joint effort of the programme and various student support services of the University, such as the Registry, the Student Affairs Office, the Information Technology Department and the Campus Management and Development Department, etc. to provide the necessary support.

The programme has a close relationship with the primary and secondary schools, music associations, art organisations and governmental departments, which provide placements and teaching practice opportunities to our students. Considerate number of graduates has become music teachers, applying and utilising what they have learnt. There is also a considerate number of graduates setting up personal studios and offering private lessons, with some others continue their study aboard or jobs in other different music fields.