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In the 16th edition of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government Academic Research Grant Programme, amongst the applications received between 1 December, 2013 and 31 May, 2014, the evaluation panel has selected the project Between India and China: Ptolemy and The Making of an Asia World Region: A Modern Cosmology, by Australian scholar Geoffrey C Gunn, professor emeritus of International Relations at Nagasaki University, visiting professor at University of Macao, PhD candidates' supervisor, and a specialist in the International Relations of East and Southeast Asia. This research project belongs to the field of Metageography, a subdiscipline which is now treated with renewed interest, and seeks to discuss the disintegration of the Ptolemaic geographic model and the development of modern Cartography. Based on two concepts of that model, namely "India intra Gangem" and "India extra Gangem", the first goal of the research is to highlight Ptolemaic Geography's representations of Asia and its transmission and reception in the context of late Middle Ages' European thought. As a second goal, the monograph will analyze how the Age of Maritime Discovery and its new understanding of the Asian region contributed to the slow dismemberment of the Ptolemaic model. Through selected case studies (India, Southeast Asia, China, Oceania), the third goal of this work involves describing the modifications and corrections introduced into Geography and Cartography by the Scientific Revolution. Hence, this project is particularly important for revealing how part of modern European Geography has been constructed, and also for pointing out reasons for the survival of such a new model, even after the age of decolonization, which means that it continues to determine geographic knowledge in the contemporary world. The Cultural Affairs Bureau Academic Research Grants are aimed at supporting academic research projects in the field of Humanities that make a significant and original contribution to the understanding of Macao, or of Macao's role in the cultural interchange between East and West. For more information on the Cultural Affairs Bureau Academic Research Grants Programme, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau's website: www.icm.gov.mo.
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Today (25 August) is the first day of the 2014/2015 academic year of the University of Macau (UM). It also marks the day the new campus becomes fully operational. The eight residential colleges (RCs) have also become operational, and the new cohort of undergraduates has already moved into the RCs. The various teaching buildings, the sports facilities, and the University Mall are all running smoothly. UM Rector Wei Zhao thinks that the start of the new academic year presents a big challenge to UM, since it is the first time the residential college system is implemented on a full scale, which will allow the students to experience a new model of education and a new campus culture. Faculty members and staff are satisfied that the new campus is operating smoothly, and the students are full of hopes and excitement about their life at UM. UM successfully completed the relocation in the just-ended summer holiday. The various teaching, sports and residential facilities underwent several trial runs during the summer holiday so that problems could be detected and fixed before faculty members, staff, and students move to the new campus. In the 2014/2015 academic year, UM welcomed over 1,600 new undergraduates. All the new undergraduates have moved into the RCs, bringing the total number of students living in the RCs to over 3,500. The University Mall, which integrates dining, shopping and postal functions; the dining halls in the various RCs; and the other Chinese and Western restaurants are all running smoothly. Some students comment that the University Mall is very convenient for those who live on campus. At about eight o'clock this morning, UM Rector Wei Zhao and Dean of Students Peter Yu, along with several other colleagues, made a special trip to the bus stops at the Praça de Ferreira do Amaral and the Edifício do Lago in Taipa, in order to gain firsthand knowledge about whether available public transport could meet UM students' needs. They later also arranged for a shuttle bus to take UM students to the new campus. Rector Wei Zhao says that starting this academic year there will be around 10,000 people, including current students, new students, faculty, and staff, working and studying on the new campus, which will bring many challenges for UM in terms of facilities management, but UM has the confidence to solve the problems efficiently. UM implements a "4-in-1" model of education on the new campus. This model has four components, namely discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, as well as community and peer education. The RC system is an important vehicle for carrying out community and peer education. It also opens a new chapter in higher education development in Macao as it represents a departure from the traditional model of education where students go to the campus for classes and return home when the classes are over. Vice Rector (Student Affairs) Haydn Chen says this is the first time UM has officially implemented the RC system on a full scale. Under this system, students will be able to experience a new model of education and a new campus culture. A student who has just moved into one of the RCs where she will work as a residential tutor, says, "Not only does each college has its own unique culture, but each college has its own library, dining hall, and music room as well. It is like a classroom outside the classroom." Another student from the Faculty of Education, who moved into one of the RCs several days ago, highly praises her experiences on the new campus, "Living on the new campus saves me a lot of commute time. It takes only a few minutes to walk from my college to the various faculties. Living on campus also means that more students are joining the student organisations, which will lead to a stronger sense of belonging among the students. " In addition to fostering unique cultures at the different RCs, UM also hopes to foster a biking culture on the new campus. Only one day into the new semester, and already many teachers and students can be seen getting around the campus on bike. A professor from the Faculty of Science and Technology thinks the biking route is very convenient. "Getting around the campus on bike saves a lot of time," he says. Another professor from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities praises the beautiful surroundings of the new campus, and says, "The new campus will help to create stronger bonds among UM members, and will also help to foster a campus atmosphere never experienced on the old campus."
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Every year, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) organises the "Parade through Macao, Latin City", providing local associations with a performance platform and an opportunity for them to freely express their creativity while encouraging participants to showcase their creative talent, increasing competitiveness, promoting the development and diversification of Macao's cultural industries as well as creating opportunities for local artists to observe and conduct exchange activities with international performing groups. IC is now calling for applications for this year's Parade. Applications are open until 26 September to all local groups registered with the Identification Services Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Since 2011, the "Parade through Macao, Latin City" is held annually through the streets of the Historic Centre of Macao. Local and overseas associations are invited by the organisers to participate in this event, which takes place annually on 20 December, marking the anniversary of Macao's Handover to China, offering residents and tourists a cheerful festive atmosphere whilst aiming at establishing the image of Macao as a cultural city. Over the past three years, the Parade has been seen by millions of people, from participating crowds and spectators to both local and regional live TV transmissions, and to viewers of special pre-recorded programmes broadcast in the region or overseas. The Parade has become increasingly popular and one of the main trademark festivals of the city. The performance proposal and all related information must be submitted to IC's Cultural Events Department, located at Edif. do Instituto Cultural in Tap Seac Square, from today until 26 September (Monday through Friday, except public holidays, from 9.30am to 5.30pm, including during lunch break), in an envelope clearly marked "Parade through Macao, Latin City 2014 – Call for Applications by Local Groups". The Parade regulations can be consulted and downloaded on the Cultural Affairs Bureau website, at www.icm.gov.mo. For more details or enquiries, please call 8399 6608 during office hours.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Survey on Manpower Needs and Wages for the second quarter of 2014. Survey coverage comprised the Gaming Sector, Wholesale & Retail Trade; Transport, Storage & Communications; Security Activities and Public Sewage & Refuse Disposal Activities, excluding own-account workers, junket promoters and junket associates. At the end of the second quarter of 2014, the Gaming Sector had 57,550 persons engaged, up by 3.5% year-on-year, among which 25,783 were dealers. Average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees in June 2014 stood at MOP20,160, up by 6.7% year-on-year, with dealers earning MOP17,530 in average. Wholesale & Retail Trade had 48,717 persons engaged, up by 14.2% year-on-year, with 30,859 working in Retail trade. In June, average earnings of full-time employees rose by 6.7% year-on-year to MOP11,800. Transport, Storage & Communications had 9,483 persons engaged, up by 4.0% year-on-year. In June, average earnings of full-time employees rose by 11.6% year-on-year to MOP19,200. Security Activities had 6,592 persons engaged, up by 23.7% year-on-year. Average earnings of full-time employees in June rose by 11.8% year-on-year to MOP9,770. Public Sewage & Refuse Disposal Activities had 723 persons engaged, down by 1.2% year-on-year. Average earnings of full-time employees in June increased by 4.7% year-on-year to MOP14,780. At the end of the second quarter of 2014, the Gaming Sector had 1,529 vacancies, down by 62 year-on-year, of which vacant posts for dealers fell significantly by 319. Wholesale & Retail Trade reported 5,762 vacancies, up by 1,953 year-on-year, with 3,623 posts in Retail Trade. Vacancies in Security Activities rose by 281 year-on-year to 946. In terms of language skills, besides Cantonese, 85.5% and 72.1% of the vacancies in the Gaming Sector required knowledge of Mandarin and English respectively; the respective rate in Retail Trade was 85.5% and 62.4%. In the second quarter of 2014, a total of 3,124 new employees were hired in the Gaming Sector; the employee recruitment rate (5.5%) increased by 0.8 percentage points year-on-year, while the job vacancy rate (2.6%) decreased by 0.2 percentage points, indicating that some of the vacancies have been filled. Among other surveyed industries, the employee turnover rate and the job vacancy rate generally increased year-on-year, with the vacancy rate staying high, suggesting that there was no significant improvement in employee turnover and many of the vacancies in these industries were still unoccupied. As regards vocational training in the surveyed industries, a total of 36,568 participants attended training courses organized, co-organized or sponsored by the establishment in the second quarter of 2014. The Gaming Sector had the largest number of participants (17,328), and most of them (50.9%) attended courses in "Gaming and Entertainment Services"; Security Activities had 8,519 participants, with 34.3% attending courses in "Services".
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The University of Macau (UM) today (23 Aug) held a convocation on the new campus to welcome more than 2,000 undergraduates and postgraduates. This is the university's first convocation held on the new campus The convocation opened with a chorus by the UM Choir. In his speech UM Rector Wei Zhao noted that this year's new students were the first to attend UM's first convocation held on the new campus, the first to study and live on the new campus, and also the first to join UM after the eight residential colleges became operational. Rector Wei Zhao added that now that the eight residential colleges have become operational, UM will be able to better implement its "4-in-1" model of education. He encouraged the students to achieve "1, 2, and 3" during their time at UM, which is to be a good person, to find at least two mentors, and to make at least three good friends. He also expressed hope that the students cherish their time at UM. Prof Lap-chee Tsui, former president and vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, was invited to speak at the convocation. Prof Tsui noted that UM's relocation to the new campus was an unprecedented undertaking, and in the process the university had to solve many problems; but to everyone's satisfaction, the relocation was finally complete. Prof Tsui used this example to encourage students to develop the ability to solve problems independently. He also encouraged students to seize the precious opportunity to study diligently, and to develop independent thinking, so they can help to create a better world in the future. After the convocation was over, the rector, the deans and academic staff from the various faculties held a tea gathering with the students. A new student commented that UM is different from universities in mainland China in that UM is more international, and she felt very excited to be one of the first students to attend the convocation on the new campus. Another student found Rector Wei Zhao's speech very inspiring and said he would remember the five virtues listed in the University Motto—"Humanity, Integrity, Propriety, Wisdom and Sincerity". The new academic year will start on 25 August. To help new students adapt to the new environment, the residential colleges, faculties, and student organisations have organised a series of activities, including information seminars and guided campus tours, since mid-August. UM has also organised an information seminar for the students' parents to help them know more about UM's education philosophy and latest developments, so they can better support their children as they are trying to adapt to their new role as a university student.
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Earlier the University of Macau (UM) carried out the challenging task of relocating to the new campus. The relocation was conducted in stages, and now it is finally complete. Next Monday (25 August) will be the first day of the new academic year. As UM members are getting ready to embrace a new chapter in the university's history, they are also saying goodbye to the old campus today. UM started large-scale relocation to the new campus in the summer holiday. Now, all the academic and administrative units have completed their relocation and resumed normal operations, except for the Centre for Macau Studies, Centre for Continuing Education, and Centre for Engineering Research and Testing, which will continue operating at the University of Macau Town Centre on the old campus. To celebrate this important milestone in campus development, UM held a Goodbye Old Campus Ceremony today in the small terraced garden on the old campus. Many distinguished guests attended the event, including Dr Lam Kam Seng, current chair of the University Council; Dr Tse Chi Wai, immediate past chair of the University Council; Dr Wong King Keung, co-founder of the University of East Asia (UM's predecessor); Prof Zhou Ligao and Prof Iu Vai Pan, former rectors of UM; Prof Wei Zhao, current rector of UM; as well as students, faculty members, current staff, retired staff, and alumni. In his speech Rector Wei Zhao noted that UM's founding inaugurated western-style higher education in Macao, and over the past more than 30 years, UM has produced a large number of outstanding graduates for Macao and the world. UM has a fine tradition and a rich cultural heritage. UM members will always remember their experiences on the old campus, and will carry forward the UM spirit and build on the good foundation achieved on the old campus in order to develop UM into a world-class university. At the Goodbye Old Campus Ceremony, Lam Kam Seng, Tse Chi Wai, Wong King Keung, Zhou Ligao, Iu Vai Pan, and Wei Zhao jointly unveiled the two plaques depicting "the history of relocation" and "the plans of the new and old campuses", which had been erected in the small terraced garden in Tai Fung Building to commemorate UM's campus development. The words on the new plaque depicting the history of UM's relocation were written by Dr Tse Chi Wai. The plaque introduces the key milestones in UM's history since its founding, including the private University of East Asia' renaming into University of Macau, the restructuring of the University Council, the revision of the Charter, the central government's approval of the new campus, and the important role of the new campus on higher education development in Macao. The plans of the new and old campuses, which are in University Blue and Gold, highlight the contrast between the plan of the new campus and that of the old campus. The Goodbye Old Campus Ceremony also included a part called "Relocation of the Turtles", in which officiating guests received from student representatives the Brazilian sliders which had lived on the old campus for many years and then put the turtles in a fish tank for the keeper to bring to the new campus. This ceremony signifies the successful completion of UM's relocation to the new campus and also conveys the wish that all UM members will work in solidarity to achieve the common goal of making UM more successful in the future. A fourth-year Chinese major from the Faculty of Education said that she had lived on the old campus for three years, which were filled with beautiful memories. She felt a strong attachment to the old campus, but she believes that the excellent environment and facilities on the new campus will make her university more colourful.
UM's new contact information is as follows: New address: Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China. New contact number: 88228833. New fax number: 88228822. Also, the library on the old campus has been renamed "University of Macau Town Centre". Some of the evening courses and continuing education courses will be conducted there.
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Consumer Council conducted its sixth 'Supermarket price survey' in August on 21 August for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets in São Lázaro and São Lourenço Parishes. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council enhanced its 'Supermarket Price Platform' mobile phone app by expanding the scope of the embedded price comparison function. Consumers are now able to browse items with price differences of over 50 percent from their iPhone and Android apps.
The Council continues to enhance its 'Supermarket Price Platform' mobile phone app for the convenience of consumers to check price data on the Platform more easily. After launching the updated version of its iPhone app, the Android version has now also been updated. Both versions include six functions: 'Supermarket price watch', Rankings for Supermarkets with Lowest Prices', 'Rankings of products with price differences of over 50%', 'Shopping basket', 'Specific Product Price Platform', and 'Certified Shops'. The Council enhanced the app by listing all products with price differences of over 50 percent instead of just showing the top 20 products with greatest price differences. Consumers can check all the items with price differences of over 50 percent and see which supermarkets those products are from with the said function.
The Council states that since its launch in 2011, the iPhone 'Platform' app has accumulated about 46,000 users with a browsing record of over 2.5 million hits. For the Android version, it has been downloaded by almost 36,000 users since its launch in 2012, with a browsing record of over 2.8 million hits. The average usage time of the 'Platform' app is about 10 mins. The continuous increase of both the number of users and browsing records shows the increasing demand of consumers to use mobile phone apps, the Council will keep on improving the various functions of the 'Platform' app according to its survey work and demand of consumers.
Consumer Council increased the number of surveyed supermarkets to 96 in late 2013, collecting over 32,000 price data each month. The Council has launched the website version and an updated version for both the iPhone and Android app for its 'Supermarket Price Information Platform'. Each version enables consumers to make comparisons according to their shopping preferences, further, the mobile phone apps allows user to lodge online complaint, which makes it more convenient for consumers. The 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' is available in Chinese, English, and Portuguese for the convenience of local citizens and tourists. The Council has also generated a QR Code for the 'Platform' app and the code is listed in local supermarkets for easy download. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals increased by 7% year-on-year to 2,753,394 in July 2014; same-day visitors accounted for 53% of the total, at 1,445,797. Analysed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China increased by 13% year-on-year to 1,871,599, coming primarily from Guangdong Province (776,521), Fujian Province (89,946) and Hubei Province (74,023); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme rose by 19%, at 870,537. Visitors from Taiwan (93,363), the Republic of Korea (47,783), Indonesia (24,527) and Japan (21,074) increased by 2%, 24%, 55% and 2% respectively year-on-year, while those from Hong Kong (554,675) decreased by 7%. Long-haul visitors from the United States (16,177), Australia (9,300) and the United Kingdom (5,033) registered year-on-year increase; visitors from Canada (5,374) marked a 5% decrease. The average length of stay of visitors remained unchanged from a year earlier, at 1.0 day in July 2014; overnight and same-day visitors stayed an average of 1.9 days and 0.2 day respectively. In the first seven months of 2014, visitor arrivals reached 18,037,241, up by 8% year-on-year, and same-day visitors took up 53% of the total. Visitors from Mainland China (+14%), Taiwan (+2%) and the Republic of Korea (+19%) increased year-on-year, while those from Hong Kong (-6%) decreased. Moreover, long-haul visitors from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom recorded year-on-year growth; however, those from Canada registered decline.
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The new academic year 2015/16 began with a warm welcome of 416 students joining the IFT family. To mark the commencement of this school year and to gain a better understanding of the tourism industry, the Institute has the honour to invite Ms. Helena Fernandes, Director of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), who was joined by IFT's President and Head of Technical and Academic Support Division, to host a sharing session to share their experiences and insightful perspectives on Macao's tourism development with the new students.
Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT emphasised the importance of fostering high standard of personal qualities throughout students' studies in IFT. Tourism and service industry is a people-oriented business which is full of 'human touch points'. Therefore, the industry requires individuals with self-cultivation, positive attitude, proper grooming and attire, professional ethics as 'just right' services can create memorable experience to customers. IFT always focuses on nurturing students within these parameters to prepare them for future challenges in this dynamic industry.
The event ended with an interactive Q&A session with guest speakers, where students enthusiastically asked questions regarding the future of Macao's tourism industry, Macao SAR Government's strategy on further developing the tourism and gaming industry, as well as career planning and choices.
IFT regularly invites well-known scholars, industry leaders and managers to host seminars or to share their experiences with students, bringing best practices and updated trends of the industry to the study environment.
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