Extending the Reach of Quality Education
In the University's multisport pavilion, flags swayed to the melody of the national anthem, signalling the official start of the ceremony. Leading the proceedings were Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government O Lam, University Council Chair Chui Sai Cheong, and Rector Im Sio Kei. The ceremony welcomed an audience of 4,000, including government officials, council members, faculty, graduates, and their families. Friends and relatives from around the world joined via live stream, sharing in the celebration from afar. Among the guests were Li Xuefei, Director of Education and Youth Affairs Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Guo Xiaofeng, Director of Department of General Affairs, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR; Kong Chi Meng, Director of Education and Youth Development Bureau; and representatives from partner institutions worldwide.
In her address, Secretary O Lam praised MPU for its outstanding role in strengthening educational ties between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and for cultivating generations of bilingual talent. She reaffirmed the Macao SAR Government's strong commitment to advancing higher education and supporting the development of the Hengqin-Macao International Education (University) Town, an initiative set to position Macao as a global hub for learning and innovation. She encouraged the University to build on its strengths in artificial intelligence, health sciences, language and translation, and sport science, propelling Macao's academic landscape to new heights.
Blessings on the Journey Ahead
Rector Im Sio Kei reflected on MPU's remarkable trajectory in recent years, underscored by academic diversity, global recognition, and research innovation. In his address to the graduates, Rector Im urged them to embrace their roles as guardians of love for the country and Macao, champions of diversity and inclusion, and pioneers of innovation and action, contributing to Macao's sustainable development under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems".
Graduate representative Benedict Valentine Sheryl Lei expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Macao SAR Government for its unwavering support of higher education, to MPU for its visionary interdisciplinary approach and nurturing environment, and to families for their endless care. He offered blessings in Portuguese and inspired his peers with a Chinese saying: "Steel is forged in fire, and so is greatness". Amid applause and laughter, the graduates bid farewell to their campus, carrying with them knowledge and conviction as they step into a broader world ready to infuse the global stage with boundless possibilities.
