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Minister Li Xuefei met with Professor Zhang Yan and his delegation from the CCHC

Minister Li Xuefei communicated with Professor Zhang Yan and delegation from CCHC

On the morning of January 21, 2025, Zhang Yan, Director of the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) at the University of Macau (UM), led a delegation to visit the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (LOCPG) in the Macao SAR. The delegation was warmly received by Minister Li Xuefei. During the meeting, Professor Zhang provided a detailed report to the Liaison Office on the future work of the Centre. Minister Li said that the CCHC holds an important position in the inheritance and promotion of Chinese culture, and acknowledged the Centre’s contributions for advancing traditional Chinese history and culture.

During the exchange, Minister Li emphasized the primary tasks of moral education and internal-external connectivity. He pointed out that in Macao, youth, culture, and education hold great significance for the development and preservation of traditional culture. He stressed that youth education should be grounded in the core and foundation of excellent traditional Chinese culture to improve teenagers’ sense of identity and pride in the strength of their motherland. He outlined four directions for the Centre’s work: Firstly, to deeply foster young people’s recognition of Chinese culture, thereby building their cultural confidence; secondly, to encourage youth participation in the “Belt and Road” initiative and the telling of China’s story well; thirdly, to fully leverage Macao’s advantage of integrating Chinese and Western cultures to promote multicultural exchanges; and lastly, to utilize the strengths of the CCHC to exchange with top domestic universities, providing talent support and a broader perspective for Macao’s development.

Both Minister Li and Professor Zhang believe that Macao is experiencing the springtime in higher education, and the CCHC bears a significant mission. As emphasized by President Xi Jinping, the youth of Macao are crucial to the future of both Macao and the motherland. It is imperative to enhance youth education, with a focus on history, culture, and national education, to strengthen their sense of national pride and patriotism. Teenagers are expected to devote themselves to the cause of “One Country, Two Systems”.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister Li Yongxian and Deputy Director Li Yongle from the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the LOCPG, along with Deputy Director Cheang Neng Ian and Administrative Officer WONG Keng Mang from CCHC of UM.

On the afternoon of December 14, 2024, the 5th Macao Humanities and Social Sciences Education Forum was held in the Cultural Building of the University of Macau (UM). Educators from all walks of life in Macao gathered together to engage in in-depth and fruitful discussions around the key topic of “Teaching Materials and Methods of Chinese language in Macao”.

The guests attending this forum cover various fields including academia, education management departments, and schools. Emeritus Professor of UM, Lei Kung Teng, as the keynote speaker, shared insights with his profound academic background at the forum; Zhang Chuanwei, the researcher from the Education and Youth Affairs Department from the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R, and Cheang Sek Kit, Director of the Division of Curriculum Development and Assessment of Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), participated in the forum and are planning to further optimize resource allocation; Professor Lam Fat Iam, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Macao Polytechnic University (MPU), Professor Fan Lianghuo, Dean of the Faculty of Education (FED) at UM, Professor Zhang Jian, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) at UM and other scholars provided theoretical support for the forum from various academic perspectives. Additionally, Vice Principal Xu Meiying from the Affiliated School of the University of Macau (ASUM), along with heads of Chinese language departments and teachers from several schools, such as Hou Kong Middle School and Pui Ching Middle School, who are directly involved in teaching practice, brought their passion for education and valuable daily experience there.

At the opening of the forum, Associate Dean Zhang Jian delivered a welcoming speech, expressing his high expectations for the event. He noted that the Macau Humanities and Social Sciences Education Forum has consistently upheld its original intention of promoting academic exchange, advancing educational innovation, and strengthening cultural heritage, becoming a landmark educational event. He emphasized that language, as the core carrier of a nation’s culture, plays an irreplaceable role in shaping the cultural, national, and state identity of Macau students. Looking back, the education achievements in Macao Chinese are remarkable. The compilation of teaching materials has become increasingly systematic and diversified, incorporating local customs and contemporary elements. The teaching methods have transitioned from traditional lectures to diverse approaches such as contextualization, exploration, and collaboration, greatly stimulating students’ enthusiasm for learning. However, the tides of the times are rolling forward, bringing new challenges and opportunities. This forum aims to build a platform to gather wisdom from all sides and strive to pave new paths for basic Chinese language education.

Professor Zhang Jian

The first half of the forum featured a keynote speech by Professor Lei Kung Teng, titled ‘Implementing the New Curriculum Standards and Utilizing the New Teaching Materials Effectively.’ Since the DSEDJ in collaboration with Guangdong Education Publishing House, introduced the ‘new teaching materials’ for Macao primary and secondary school Chinese language education in 2021, and with the Ministry of Education issuing the ‘new curriculum standards’ in 2022, the deep integration and practical implementation of these have become the focus of education reform. Professor Lei began by highlighting the distinctive feature of the Chinese language curriculum: the unification of its instrumental and humanistic aspects. He delved into the origins of the ‘humanistic’ attribute, extracting the essence of humanistic spirit from the traditional cultural concepts of ‘astronomy’ and ‘humanities,’ which emphasize holistic care for individuals, and integrating this into the Chinese language curriculum to lay a solid foundation for the comprehensive growth of students. Focusing on ‘core literacy,’ which encompasses four dimensions—cultural confidence, language proficiency, cognitive abilities, and aesthetic creativity—it is the central aim of the Chinese language curriculum to nurture these attributes in students.

Discussing the highlights of the ‘new teaching materials,’ Professor Lei pointed out two key transformations. First is the innovation in unit teaching over single-article teaching, connecting core concepts while balancing individual uniqueness and relevance of each article. This approach integrates and deepens the knowledge content of single articles, aiding students in advancing their reading and writing skills. Second is the transition from lecture-based teaching to reading-based teaching, emphasizing that reading ability is the foundation of self-learning, which is crucial for comprehensive subject learning and the enhancement of overall literacy. Facing the upgraded reading requirements of the ‘new teaching materials,’ teachers should focus on awakening students’ subject consciousness, helping them break free from traditional reading constraints, and become interactive protagonists with texts. Teachers should fully respect students’ reading autonomy, teaching according to the individual nature of reading. They should accurately identify their multifaceted roles, carefully arranging the teaching environment as organizers, guiding and motivating throughout as facilitators, and equally engaging in the reading process as participants. They should incorporate elements that inspire thinking and avoid the drawbacks of rote learning. At the same time, teachers should focus on the multidimensional cultivation of reading abilities, balancing the relationship between knowledge and skills. With a practice-oriented approach, they aim to assist students in becoming proficient in language use.

Professor Lei Kung Teng

The themed discussion segment, moderated by Professor SIO Chio Ieong, sparked a lively exchange. Liang Baoxin from Lou Hau High School was the first to share her personal experience on the use of teaching materials and methods; Cai Hanshu from the affiliated primary school of Hou Kong Middle School talked about the difficulties and confusion in teaching, eliciting widespread resonance and discussion. Vice Principal Xu Meiying from ASUM, from a managerial perspective, elaborated on her journey of teaching reform, sharing her practical experience in resource coordination, teacher development, and driving educational innovation. Professor Lei Kung Teng evaluated and highly commended this discussion. Professor SIO highlighted three key points in his summary to elevate the standard of basic Chinese language education in Macao: First, government-led coordination, involving key teachers in in-depth research on teaching materials and methods, and conducting systematic teacher training to empower educators. Second, schools should take on the comprehensive planning responsibilities, coordinating teaching rhythms across different grades and units. Third, individual teachers must strive for progress and continuously enhance their Chinese language literacy.

Following the conclusion of the themed discussion segment, Professor Fan Lianghuo, Dean of FED, and Professor Zhu Shoutong, Director of the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC), each delivered concluding remarks. They highly commended the forum’s discussion outcomes and encouraged the participants to bring the wisdom and insights gained back to their campuses, integrating them into daily teaching practices. This ongoing effort aims to continuously infuse vitality into Macao’s language education and propel the humanities and social sciences education in Macao to new heights.

Professor Fan Lianghuo

Professor Zhu Shoutong

On 25 and 26 November, 2024, the launch ceremony for the 3rd Festival of China Culture and the 7th Macao Forum for Chinese Culture took place at the E34 Cultural Building of UM. The Festival was created and organized to promote the outstanding traditions of Chinese culture, enhance the sense of patriotism and love for Macao within the academic and social communities, and foster a positive atmosphere for the inheritance of Chinese culture in Macau.

This year’s cultural festival is hosted by the University of Macau and supported by the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Central Government’s Liaison Office in Macau, the Cultural and Tourism Department of Henan Province, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macau SAR Government, the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macau SAR Government, the Macau Foundation, the General Association of Chinese Culture in Macau, and the Henan Provincial Museum of Literature and History. The collaboration units include the Think Tank of United Citizens, Macau University of Science and Technology, the Institute of Chinese Culture at City University of Macau, the Macau Institute of Sino-Western Innovation, the Association of Chinese Excellent Traditional Culture in Macau, and Macao Base for Primary and Secondary Education in Humanities and Social Sciences.

Prof. Mok Kai Meng, Vice Rector of UM, delivered a welcome speech at the event, stating that the success of the previous two Festival of Chinese Culture provided valuable opportunities to deepen cultural exchange and promote academic prosperity. He emphasized that the festival successfully established a platform to showcase the charm of Chinese culture and expressed confidence that this year’s festival would achieve even more fruitful results, contributing new strength to the inheritance and development of Chinese culture. He also highlighted that the Macao Forum for Chinese Culture would leverage Macao’s unique position as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, focusing on the theme “Macao Culture and Modern Chinese Civilization,” and inviting numerous experts and scholars from various fields to gather and share ideas, which would inject new vitality into the promotion of Chinese culture.

After Prof. Mok’s speech, Prof. Xu Jie, Dean of the FAH of UM, announced the official opening of the launch ceremony for the 3rd Festival of China Culture and the 7th Macao Forum for Chinese Culture.

Mr. Chen Zongxin, Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of the Yunfu Municipal Committee of the Communist Party, mentioned in his speech that this event marks the return of Yunfu culture to the University of Macau following the presentation of the “Southern Lychee Leaves” art exhibition at the 2nd Festival of China Culture in 2023. He pointed out that the cultural integration between Yunfu and Macao strengthens the cultural ties between the two places.

Prof. Zhu Shoutong, Director of the Centre for Chinese History and Culture of UM, stated that thanks to the broad support from various sectors of society, previous festivals have been very successful and have achieved significant results. Through collaboration with government agencies from provinces such as Guangdong, Henan, and Jiangsu, the festival has promoted the development of more regionally distinctive traditional cultures. He also expressed the commitment to making the Macao Forum for Chinese Culture a more culturally meaningful and academically influential platform, with the hope that it would gather wisdom from various sources and integrate outstanding achievements from different fields, allowing culture to be promoted and inherited through sharing and learning.

Liu Chan, President of the Liu Haisu International Art Research Association, and Meng Na, President of the European New Immigrant Chinese Writers Association, extended their congratulations online for the launch of the Festival of China Culture and Macao Forum for China Culture. Ms. Meng Na remarked that the festival and forum hold particular significance in the current era and also possess profound historical meaning, serving as a vivid portrayal of the Chinese heart and the spirit of return.

The launch ceremony also included the awarding of the “Chinese Culture Promotion Ambassador” supervisory commission certificates, the ambassador appointment ceremony, and the award ceremony for the 2024 “Full Love Macao” short video competition. During the Chinese arts and culture showcase, Ms. Hu Qian performed the Yue Opera “Clothing Covers the World,” and the Macao Mulan Association demonstrated the “Dunhuang Art Fitness routine”. The 3^rd Festival of China Culture features nearly one hundred diverse activities, which will continue until December. Everyone is welcome to visit the relevant websites and public accounts to stay updated on the progress of the events.

The “Chinese Heart, Return Tribute – Greater Bay Area Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Macao’s Return” organized by the University of Macau Alumni Association and sponsored by the Cultural Development Fund, was grandly inaugurated at the Centre for Chinese History and Culture (CCHC) of the University of Macau (UM) on the afternoon of November 5, 2024. The exhibition showcased nearly 60 outstanding works from over 30 calligraphers and painters from the Greater Bay Area, featuring rich content and diverse themes to jointly celebrate the dual celebrations.

The exhibition is part of the UM Festival of Chinese Culture series, co-organized by the Macao Calligraphy Academy, and supported by the CCHC and the Alumni and Development Office of the UM. During the opening ceremony, Mr. Ao Peng Kong, Chairman of the General Assembly of the UM Alumni Association, delivered the opening speech, expressing hope that through the theme of calligraphy and painting, cultural exchanges and cooperation in the Greater Bay Area would be promoted, resonating with more people in celebrating the return together.

Prof. Zhu Shoutong, Director of CCHC, welcomed the distinguished guests and exhibitors at the opening ceremony and encouraged everyone to experience the charm of the campus. He emphasized the importance of alumni to the university, believing that leveraging alumni power could not only strengthen cohesion, but also enhance the school’s brand image. The exhibitors demonstrated their cultural accomplishments through their brush and ink works.

Mr.Chau Veng Tang, Vice President of the Macao Calligraphy Academy, stated that their team actively co-organized this event and broadly mobilized their council members and members to create and submit works, jointly telling Chinese stories through calligraphy and painting to make this wonderful event possible.

During the event, exhibitors participated in an on-site calligraphy and painting gathering, each displaying their talents in a lively atmosphere, adding more cultural elements to the celebration of Macao’s return.

From 8th to 10^th November, 2024, the Centre for Chinese History and Culture at the University of Macau, in collaboration with the Colstory and Culture at the U, Cinta Escola, jointly organized the Jiangmen Historical and Cultural Experience Tour. This in-depth study tour aimed to lead students to the Greater Bay Area for inspection and exchange, to broaden their knowledge, enrich their spiritual outlook, and deepen their understanding of the country. Through on-site visits and exchanges, it is expected to stimulate students’ interest in the excellent culture of China and cultivate their understanding of Chinese history and culture.

November 8th – Cultural Background of Jiangmen

Jiangmen is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese in China, with abundant historical and cultural resources. In 2007, Jiangmen’s world heritage was listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO, becoming the first world heritage project in Guangdong Province. In the China Hometown of Overseas Chinese Museum, teachers and students learned about the “Gigs Trade” that prevailed in the middle and late Qing Dynasty, and recognized the hard journey of overseas Chinese pioneers who built local infrastructures around the world with their own lives and sweat.

November 9th to 10th – Visit to Watchtowers and Villages

In Kaiping and Taishan, students visited watchtowers and villages, learning about the architectural background and characteristics of watchtowers from the Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China era. Kaiping watchtowers are a typical representative of overseas Chinese culture, carrying a wealth of historical information and cultural connotations. In Zili Village, Liyuan, and Meijia Courtyard, teachers and students visited the rapeseed flower fields and watchtower clusters, understood the spirit of “self-reliance” and the historical background of the characteristic architecture of watchtowers, and discussed the profound significance of Chinese and Western cultures. In Chikan Ancient Town, students learned about the rise and development of the two major families, the Situ and Guan, and gained a deeper understanding of their significant impact on the economy and people’s livelihood at the time.

Through this study trip, students visited many historical sites and gained an in-depth understanding of the local cultural heritage and historical background. The visits allowed students to feel the breadth and depth of Chinese culture, stimulating their enthusiasm for learning history and cultural heritage, and strengthening their appreciation and understanding of the beauty of Chinese culture. This study not only expanded the students’ horizons and enhanced their understanding of national culture but also laid a solid foundation for promoting Chinese culture.