More than 1,500 students successfully emerged from postgraduate programmes at the University of Macau (UM) on Saturday, a result Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U – who officiated at the graduation ceremony – hailed as an impressive achievement for the SAR.
In his speech, UM rector Yonghua Song said that some of the graduates’ academic achievements had already helped grow the health and the high-tech industries in the Greater Bay Area.
Song offered them three pieces of advice: “First, rise up to difficulties and dare to tread a challenging path. Second, utilise what you have learned and never cease to innovate. Third, aim high and take on responsibilities.”
He also praised UM for proactively expanding its network of international collaborations and capitalising on the opportunities presented by Hengqin.
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These initiatives helped “propel UM towards its goal of becoming an internationally recognised university of excellence” and fostered valuable industry-academia collaborations, he said.
Graduate Lei I Teng, meanwhile made a speech on behalf of her peers – promising they would all “uphold the virtues the university has taught us.”
“There were times when we doubted ourselves,” she said. “But let us remember and be proud of who we are.”
A total of 1,527 UM students were awarded with postgraduate qualifications on Saturday, from a wide range of academic fields. Almost 300 earned PhDs.
