The “Ceremony for the Commencement of Construction of the University of Macau’s (UM) Campus in the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin was held on Friday.
The construction commencement ceremony took place at 4 pm on the campus site in the southwest of the Zone, with various officials as officiating guests, including Macau SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai and Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau SAR Deputy Director Huang Liuquan, among others.
As the flagship project of the second phase of the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, the construction commencement represents a “significant transition from ‘relying on existing facilities’ to ‘establishing a permanent physical presence’, further advancing educational integration between Macau and Hengqin”, according to UM.
In addition, this milestone signifies a new stage of high-quality development for UM and supports deeper Macau-Hengqin integration, while also reflecting meaningful progress for the SAR’s higher education sector in delivering cross-border education under the “one country, two systems” policy, the university has pointed out.
Furthermore, the project is expected to contribute to China’s pursuit of scientific and technological self-reliance and strengthen efforts to develop Macau and Hengqin into a hub for top international talent.
UM Rector Song Yonghua pointed out in his speech that UM has taken the lead in offering education and establishing a campus in the Cooperation Zone, with the campus expected to be fully completed in 2029.
The new campus will house the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Information Science and Computing, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Design. UM will also build an innovative, multidisciplinary research platform on the new campus to support future development.
The UM campus in the Cooperation Zone covers a land area of approximately 375,600 square metres, with a total gross floor area of 831,000 square metres. Construction is expected to take about three years, with a partial opening planned for 2028.
The campus will include a central teaching building, a sports complex, a riverside international exchange centre, and residential facilities for students and staff, along with a range of supporting facilities.
The architectural design will blend cultural heritage with functionality. The multi-purpose complex will stand as a bright, modern landmark, with the central teaching building to be distinguished by a dark-red façade that reflects the university’s humanistic traditions.
Moreover, the Faculty of Design will incorporate streamlined spaces to create an artistic atmosphere. All major buildings will be connected by corridors, forming a cohesive layout that integrates landscape and function and reflects UM’s philosophy of nurturing students through their environment, according to the university.
Source and Photo: UM
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