Rector’s Speech in Congregation 2025 (24/05/2025)
Your Excellency, Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Chancellor of the University of Macau, Mr Sam Hou Fai,
Honourable Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ms O Lam,
Honourable Chair of the University Council, Dr Peter Lam Kam Seng,
Distinguished Members of the University Assembly and the University Council,
Dear parents, teachers, students and guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon! Thank you for attending the 2025 Congregation of the University of Macau (UM) to witness a milestone moment in the lives of over 1,600 students. On behalf of the University of Macau, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all students who have successfully graduated and also express my heartfelt gratitude to teachers and parents who have stood by, supported and mentored our students throughout their studies.
In 2024, as we marked the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, President Xi Jinping gave us a new task and goal as ‘promoting integrated development of education, technology and human resources, building Macao into an international hub for high-calibre talents’. In the policy address for 2025, the SAR government accordingly prioritised the development of a Macao-Hengqin international education (university) town as the first major undertaking, with the UM campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as the pilot project. The ground-breaking ceremony for UM’s Cooperation Zone campus was held last December. Building on the remarkable achievements over the past 10 years since its relocation to the current campus, UM has ushered in new possibilities in a major historical opportunity brought about by the acceleration of Macao-Hengqin integration. Remaining true to our original mission and living up to the trust, we will continue to cultivate and attract talents for the nation and Macao and jointly promote the integrated development of education, technology and talents. In the resplendent canvas of a more magnificent era, we will write a new chapter for UM!
Dear students, four years are a blip in time. I hope that four years of study life, whether in major courses offered by faculties or through the diverse activities organised by Residential Colleges, would have allowed you to gain experience and growth in terms of acquiring knowledge, shaping personality, specialising in core fields while gaining wide perspectives; I hope you will remember how you overcame the most challenging course in your major in spite of significant pressure. Remember how to innovate in collaboration with your partners in competitions both on and off campus, remember the different cultures that you experienced during your visits to the Chinese mainland or abroad, and remember how to adapt to a new environment and surmount hardships in your first internship. You were full of academic zeal when you came to UM four years ago, and now that you have finished your studies, the brilliance of your talent is for all to see. These are not just your youthful footprints and personal memories but also the most enduring growth stories of the UM campus, and a precious living snapshot of UM’s pursuit of excellence.
Dear students, today, with the acceleration of globalisation and technological revolution, it is not only your time to soar in the sky but also the beginning of shouldering responsibilities. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you three expectations.
First, develop Macao with pure passion and play your part in national rejuvenation.
In Macao, where Chinese and Western cultures converge, the practice of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy has entered a new stage and demonstrated its vitality. New and historical opportunities are emerging through deepening integration between Macao and Hengqin. Therefore, given the favourable timing and social conditions, now is the time for you to stride forth. I hope you will ride the tide of our times and develop Macao with your professional knowledge and innovative ideas. As the Chinese saying goes, ‘One’s youth will shine the brightest when dedicated to paying back the nation; one will find his truest purpose when shouldering responsibility’. When you journey from the shores of Macao into the world, I hope you will serve as a bridge between this ‘small city’ and our great nation. I also hope you will go global while maintaining firm roots in China as you forge ahead bravely and become part of the grand course of our country’s prosperity and national rejuvenation.
Second, seize opportunities with vision and face challenges with resilience.
Challenges coexist with opportunities in each era. Therefore, we can identify and seize opportunities hidden in the tide of the times only with foresight and courage. The most valuable opportunities in each era are always reserved for those who have clear targets and can rise stronger after each fall. Only by aligning personal growth with the development of Macao and the nation, can we avoid overlooking the valuable opportunities before us. As university graduates, you should keep increasing professional competence and cultivate resilience so that when facing uncertainties or even turbulences, you can find the right course with wisdom and courage, and steer through challenges with unrelenting perseverance.
Third, enter uncharted territories with the spirit of innovation and forge ahead into the future with the power of youth.
You are now at the most innovative stage of your life. This feature of youth is a key driving force for social progress. However, innovation must not be confined to the ivory tower of academia. It also requires keen observation in daily life, continuous contemplation, and the daring to attempt and achieve. A light-bulb moment of yours can spark a creative idea to provide enterprises with more cost-efficient solutions. In addition, with the help of artificial intelligence or new media technologies, you can pioneer new frontiers in fields that accord with your interests. I hope you will break through boundaries with your youthful passion and pave new paths towards a bright future with innovative thinking.
Dear students, when you leave the campus, I hope your action will prove that though tiny, Macao is big enough to nurture lofty ambitions; though fleetingly brief, one’s youth holds the power to leave profound imprints on the times. I also hope you will carry UM’s motto – ‘Humanity, Integrity, Propriety, Wisdom, and Sincerity’ in your heart. With dreams as your compass and courage as your oar, you will be sure to brave the wind and the waves and reach the other shore!
Once again, I extend my congratulations to all graduates. I wish you a bright future ahead. The university will always be proud of you. To all our guests, I wish you good health, happiness and all the very best. Thank you!