Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Gather at UM to Explore Civilizational Exchange through Academia

The "2025 Third Tsinghua University-Hong Kong Polytechnic University- University of Macau Tripartite Exchange Programme" successfully concluded on 28 June 2025 at the University of Macau after five days of activities. Centered around the theme "China and the World: Society, History, and Culture", this event brought together 123 professors and students from the three institutions to explore the contemporary value and dissemination pathways of Chinese traditional culture through in-depth academic discussions and hands-on cultural practices.

During the opening ceremony on 25 June, Prof. Song Yonghua, Rector of the University of Macau, warmly welcomed the professors and students from Tsinghua University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, outlining the mission of the event: to promote collaboration among the three universities and mutual learning between ancient and modern civilizations through academia; to provide high-level students with a new postgraduate forum in education; and to guide youth in rooting their development in the country, drawing on Macao's experience of "Chinese culture as the mainstay, coexistence of diversity," while exploring the innovation of tradition and the concept of a "community with a shared future for mankind". Prof. Song encouraged participants to engage rigorously and practically, fostering open communication and combining discussions with field visits in Macao to write a new chapter in collaboration.

Prof. Gu Tao, Dean of the Rixin College at Tsinghua University, introduced the college's educational system, which integrates tradition and modernity, cultivating talents with humanistic qualities and a global perspective. He expressed hope that the event would promote cultural exchanges in East Asia and contribute to building an "academic community" among Beijing, Hong Kong, and Macao. Prof. Li Ping, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, thanked UM for organizing the event and reflected on the collaboration among the three universities. He emphasized that Hong Kong Polytechnic University has made Chinese history and culture compulsory and established a research center, encouraging faculty and students to cherish the "bridge of academia" and engage in in-depth exchanges on the inheritance and innovation of Chinese historical culture in Macao. Notable attendees included Dr. Lam Tai Fai, Council Chairman of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Prof. Xu Jie, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at UM, and Prof. Lei Lai Cheng, Assistant Dean.

Throughout the event, a variety of exchange formats were employed. In expert lectures, Prof. Li Jun, Head of the Department of Art and Design at UM, shared insights on "From Crossroads to Kunlun Mountain: The 'Small' and 'Large' of Macao," with commentary by Prof. Lin Shaoyang, distinguished professor in Department of History. Additionally, Prof. Zhang Yan, Director of Centre for Chinese History and Culture, demonstrated various techniques in Chinese landscape painting, allowing participants to appreciate the charm of ink art across time. In the academic discussion sessions, professors and students from Tsinghua University, University of Macau, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University successfully held four concurrent seminar groups at UM's Cultural Building, focusing on literature, history, and philosophy, with over 120 research reports presented. Participants also conducted field visits to historical landmarks in Macao, such as the Zheng Guanying Former Residence and the Ruins of St. Paul. Campus tours and themed dinners provided ample opportunities for informal exchanges among the three universities.

At the closing ceremony, the fruitful outcomes of the exchange camp were widely acknowledged. Prof. Zhang Yan highlighted the significant achievements of the newly established doctoral forum, where over 30 interdisciplinary reports effectively honed the abilities of young scholars, successfully embodying the spirit of "promoting the creative transformation of excellent traditional Chinese culture." The event transformed Macao's unique historical and cultural resources into vibrant teaching settings, providing a unique perspective for understanding the interactions between "China and the World," while reinforcing collaboration among the three universities and providing a solid platform for cultivating internationally minded talents in the humanities and social sciences.

This exchange camp was hosted by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Macau. From thematic lectures to academic exchanges in group discussions, and from explorations of Portuguese architectural heritage to reflections during the return journey, the core value of this deep exchange lies in accumulating valuable, replicable practical experiences for the long-term collaboration of the three schools in "Upholding the original aspiration of academia". It represents another successful practice in deepening exchanges in the humanities and social sciences among top universities in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Macao, jointly serving the national cultural development strategy.

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Read More (Written in Chinese): Related news published by University of Macau