Talents cultivated to meet demand of diversified economy in Macao
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E-mail CNTV, December 18, 2014
Under the "One Country, Two systems", higher education in the SAR has benefited, and is helping diversify the region dominated by the gaming industry.
People may perceive Macao as solely a gaming tourist city. But this is another side of Macao. This city is making great effort on higher education as well.
Founded in 1981, the University of Macao is the representative of the development of higher education and is attracting more students worldwide.
"I heard that University of Macao put lots of resources in business, so I came to University of Macao," says a student of University of Macau.
"My home university has certain partnership with UMC, so they accept me, If I want to go to other university, I have to apply all on my own," says a student of University of Macau.
According to the, 2014-2015 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, that lists the best global universities on performance and core missions, the University of Macao ranked between 276 and 300 - making it the first time the school has placed in this university rankings, following a campus relocation earlier this year.
This is the new campus at University of Macao. I'm actually stepping onto the Chinese mainland. This is Hengqin Island, and Macao rents parts of the island to use as space for the university. The campus is governed by Macao laws, but for the rest of the Hengqin Island, it's still ruled by Chinese mainland.
Hengqin Island borders the area of Cotai in Macao. As Macao is short of space，and to help the education development of Macao, the National People's Congress Standing Committee adopted a bill in 2009, which approved the construction of University of Macao's new campus on Hengqin island, and authorized Macao SAR to exercise jurisdiction over the new campus.
According to the President of the university, the project was a historic and significant move.
"This is very first time that mainland actually give a piece of land to Macao or HK, at this size, at this scale. I think it is the so called one country two systems policy or strategy is a really a live one," says Zhao Wei, rector of University of Macau.
The added space has enabled the university to establish four lab buildings,which are mainly focused on environmental protection, electronics and information technology and Chinese medicine.
"We have a special law passed in 2006, for the University of Macao. That law seperates university of Macao form public branches. We're public university, if you don't have special law, we will be managed a branch of government," Zhao says.
Other schools aren't so lucky, Macao Polytechnic Institute is a local college facing the shortage of space, and with no support of the law, it's development has been restrained.
"Space is the most important thing we need.To enlarge the space of the campus, we can provide better learning opportunities for the students to further enhance the teaching quality. Secondly,we're still waiting for the new Higher Education law," says Lei Ngan Lin, Academic Affairs Head of Macao Polytechnic Institute.
The current Higher Education law was implemented in 1991. Although many courses of the institution have received the accreditation in UK, U.S. and Australia, they can't offer master degrees which could possibly change in the future.
"In the law aspect, we'll renew the Higher Education law, and to keep pace with the development of higher education, let the colleges and institutions have more freedom to build themselves into world class ones," Sou Chio Fai, director of Higher Education Bureau Of Macao.
According to Mr. Sou, an increase of student enrollment has come from outside of Macao. In 2011-2012, enrollment of non-Macao students was 31% and jumped 39% this year.
The Higher Education Bureau of Macao is establishing funds from both the government and universities to encourage more international students to Macao.
They're hoping to cultivate more talents in different fields to meet the demand of a diversified economy in Macao, and the global market.
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