City University of Macao and University of Coimbra’s Advanced study program in Europe – Diploma of Advanced Studies in Economic International Relations – Information session for Year 2022 student intakes was held both onsite and online at the Ho Yin Convention Centre. Since City University of Macau signed cooperation agreement with University of Coimbra last September, the two universities have been actively promoting the implementation of relevant projects. The study program provides students an opportunity to study in a distinguished Portuguese university, experience its international learning environment, and receive teaching and guidance from renowned experts and scholars in the discipline.
Mr Derio Chan, Program Coordinator of the Advanced Studies Diploma of the University of Coimbra in Macau, introduced the joint program while Rector Jun Liu, City University of Macau; Dean Jose Alves, Faculty of Business, City University of Macau; Mr Danilo Afondo-Henriques, Delegate of Timor-Leste at Forum of Macau; and Mr Constantino Mousinho, General Manager of Banco Comercial Portuguese, S.A. Macau Branch, delivered a speech in the information session, respectively. Guests attending the information session also included Dean Wai Kong Cheung of Faculty of Finance, Executive Associate Dean Xi Li of Faculty of International Tourism and Management, and Associate Dean Eva Khong of Faculty of Finance, City University of Macau.
Rector Jun Liu thanked Mr Derio Chan, for his assistance in making the cooperation happened. Also, he said that CityU Macau was honored to have the opportunity to work with the University of Coimbra, the oldest university in Portugal. Rector Jun Liu communicated with students who participated on site and mentioned that mainland students who came to study in Macau were studying across the border, but if they were fortunate enough to study in Portugal, it would be studying aboard for them. He suggested students to try bravely, to feel and gain the experience brought by different cultures, societies, humanities and religions. And based on his years of teaching experience in the United States, Rector Jun Liu pointed out that in a multicultural university environment, promoting the interaction between local students and international students can create a cultural environment of respect and learning resonance. Lastly, he hoped that the students will seize the opportunity and make the best choice for their future.
Mr Derio Chan introduced the University of Coimbra and Diploma of Advanced Studies in Economic International Relations to students. University of Coimbra is one of the oldest universities in Europe and a world leading university that offers education and research in all study levels and in nearly all study fields. It is classified as a 5-stars top university in the areas of teaching, innovation, research, facilities, employability, internationalization and inclusiveness. Diploma of Advanced Studies in Economic International Relations is a program of Faculty of Economics. The program will be taught in English, with a total of five courses, and the duration of study is one semester (three months). The courses will be taught in small classes, focusing on the communication between professors and students. The program features learning the EU political and economic system, as well as the essentials of international relations from a European perspective, and “EU Governance and Institutions” and “International Political Economy” are compulsory courses.
Mr Derio Chan also explained the process of application. A total of 35 students will be admitted to the program on a first come first served basis. In addition to submitting application forms, academic transcripts and other personal information documents, students who intend to enroll also need to submit a letter of recommendation written by the dean of their faculty. The deadline for the first round of application is 30 April. After completing the application, an online or face to face interview will be arranged. An admission notice will be delivered to students once they pass the interview. The deadline for the second round is 30 May, and the last round is 30 July. If interested students have any enquiries about the program and application, they can contact the Faculty of Finance of CityU Macau for details.
Dean Jose Alves has studied at University of Coimbra for 5 years. He shared his interesting experiences during his stay of study and strongly recommended students to take the opportunity to study in an environment full of academic atmosphere. University of Coimbra possesses numerous resources. Among 25,000 students, one third of them come from all over the world, especially from the European countries. Studying international economics locally is undoubtedly the best choice. He believed that this experience will be a great help for students in their future careers.
Mr Constantino Mousinho shared his experience of working and living in various countries with students. He expressed his understanding and attached great importance to students who wish to study aboard. Mr Constantino Moushinho then briefly introduced Business Continuity Planning (BCP). BCP Macau branch aims at establishing an international platform for business operations between Europe, China and Portuguese-speaking African countries. It provides comprehensive financial products and services for individuals and corporates. The BCP group also pays attention to the environmental, social and governance needs of the society that social responsibility campaigns have been launched in different countries and attracted participants from numerous entities.
Lastly, as the delegate of Timor-Leste in Mcau, Mr Danilo Afondo-Henriques introduced the Portuguese speaking country - Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, also known as Timor-Leste, is an island country located in Southeast Asia. With Macau, Timor-Leste was the only two colonies of Portugal in the Far East, and thus, Portuguese becomes one of the official languages of the country. It is mainly engaged in printing, handkerchief and textile. The main economic crops are coffee, rubber, coconut, etc. It is also rich in marine ecology and diversity, and can be called an important global hotspot in terms of the species and number of cetaceans.
During the Q&A Session, both online and on-site students enthusiastically posed questions to Mr Derio Chan. He answered them one by one patiently and added that if students want to broaden their international vision, they should bravely take the first step, leave their comfort zone and seize the opportunity to see and explore the world.