A delegation led by Geraldo Nunes Sobrinho, director of programmes and scholarships of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) under the Ministry of Education of Brazil, recently visited the University of Macau (UM) in the company of Rafael Rodrigues Paulino from the Consulate General of Brazil in Hong Kong and Macau. The delegation was warmly received by UM Rector Yonghua Song, Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) Dean Hong Gang Jin, Faculty of Law (FLL) Associate Dean Augusto Teixeira Garcia, and Global Affairs Office Director Cindy Lam. Both parties had an in-depth discussion on strengthening the collaboration between UM and Brazilian universities. Sobrinho highly praised UM for its achievements in teaching and research and looks forward to increased collaboration between both sides in personnel training.

During the meeting, Rector Song told the guests about UM’s unique model of education, strategies for global collaboration, and plans for future development. Prof Jin shared the recent collaboration between the FAH and the FLL in creating a Portuguese academic database aimed at enhancing teaching and research in areas related to the Portuguese language, saying that universities in Brazil are welcome to join the project. Sobrinho praised UM for its rapid development in recent years and its fruitful results in teaching and research, adding that he looks forward to increased collaboration between UM and Brazilian universities in mobility programmes and exchange activities. Paulino believes that there will be more academic visits between Macao and Brazil and hopes that UM and higher education institutions in Brazil will establish more collaboration frameworks.

After the meeting, the delegation visited the University Gallery and the library to learn more about UM’s commitment to continuously improving its teaching and learning environment. Members of the delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Education of Brazil, as well as rectors and vice rectors of various universities, namely the Federal University of Roraima, the Amazonas State University, the São Paulo State University, the Federal University of ABC, the University of Brasília, the Federal University of Mato Grosso, and the Federal University of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre. The CAPES is a foundation under the Ministry of Education in Brazil, which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of higher education professionals in Brazil.