President of UIC Prof Tang gave a speech on the current development of UIC during an inauguration ceremony for the Alliance for Technological Innovation and Talent Development in Western Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) on 19 August at the University of Macau (UM).
The alliance was initiated by UM and jointly established with UIC and Wuyi University. Earlier, the three parties signed a collaboration agreement at UM.
The inauguration ceremony was followed by the first Alliance Forum on Collaboration in Technology and Education.
Over 70 members of senior management teams of universities and government representatives from western Greater Bay Area attended the ceremony to witness the inauguration.
(From left) Deputy party chief of Wuyi University Li Aikang, Associate Vice President of UIC Prof George Wei, party chief of Wuyi University Zhang Kun, Rector of UM Yonghua Song, President of UIC Prof Tang Tao, President of Wuyi University Zhang Yunhua, and Director of Rector’s Office of UM Carol Kei Wong.
Prof Tang pointed out that serving as a platform for collaboration between industry and universities in western GBA, the alliance will help to promote exchange and collaboration in personnel and technology among cities in the region.
Prof Tang talks about how UIC is a ‘Greater Bay Area University’
He said that as the first full scale higher education cooperation between Mainland China and Hong Kong, UIC is a ‘Greater Bay Area University’ in nature. It strives to cultivate talents with a liberal arts pedagogy while also attaching importance to Chinese traditional culture.
President Tang further highlighted that the Alliance should also play a role in promoting educational exchanges in the GBA, so that Hong Kong and Macao students have more opportunities to come and experience the development of the Mainland.
Secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR Tam Chon Weng also gave a speech and said that the SAR government places equal emphasis on ‘enhancing Macao’s own capacity’ and ‘strengthening regional collaboration’, adding that the establishment of the alliance is an important measure aimed to promote technological innovation and personnel training in western GBA.
Tam Chon Weng talks about ‘enhancing Macao’s own capacity’
UM Rector Yonghua Song said that the establishment of the alliance reflects UM’s effort to grasp the opportunities brought about by the development of the GBA and to support the SAR government’s strategic plan.
Yonghua Song reflects on UM’s effort to grasp the opportunities
Liao Jingshan, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province; Li Weimin, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangmen Municipal Committee and Head of the CPC Jiangmen Municipal United Front Work Department; Yan Wu, vice mayor of Zhuhai; and Na Jia, Deputy Head of the Department of Education of Guangdong province, said that the alliance will help to combine the strengths of universities, research institutes, and companies in the western GBA and deepen technological innovation and collaboration in education.
Liao Jingshan
Li Weimin
Yan Wu
Na Jia
Currently comprised of 17 member universities in the GBA, the alliance will first promote teaching and research among universities in western GBA before shifting its focus to building relations between companies, research institutes, and universities in the region so that they can work closely to integrate teaching and research resources in western GBA, in order to jointly promote innovation and deepen collaboration.
Prof Tang (left) at the first Alliance Science and Education Cooperation Forum
In addition, the alliance will support the effort of the University Alliance of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to enhance the quality of technological innovation and personnel training in western GBA in order to develop the region into a centre for technological innovation and personnel training.
Editors: Samuel Burgess, Deen He, Lauren Richardson
Source: Global Affairs Office / Communications Office, University of Macau
