Macao Strengthens Sino-Lusophone Higher Education Ties Through Landmark Forum
The 4th Forum for Presidents of Higher Education Institutions of China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries convened in Macao from 15 to 17 June 2026, bringing together more than 150 university leaders, rectors, and representatives from mainland China, Macao, and Portuguese-speaking nations including Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, and Timor-Leste. Hosted jointly by the Education and Youth Development Bureau and the Chinese-Portuguese Bilingual Talent Training Alliance, the event underscored Macao’s pivotal role as a bridge for educational cooperation under the broader framework of Forum Macao.
University leaders explored practical pathways for talent development amid rapid technological change and deepening regional integration. The gathering coincided with the 35th Annual Meeting of the Association of Portuguese Language Universities, amplifying opportunities for multilateral dialogue.
Building on a Decade of Institutional Dialogue
Previous editions of the forum have progressively expanded the scope of collaboration. The inaugural event in 2018 at the University of Macau laid foundational networks for Portuguese-language education across China. Subsequent gatherings refined focuses on pandemic-era cooperation and post-pandemic recovery, culminating in the third forum in late 2024. The fourth edition advances these efforts by centering on technology empowerment and linguistic interconnection, reflecting evolving priorities in global higher education.
Macao’s unique position—rooted in its history as a platform for China-Portuguese-speaking countries engagement—enables distinctive bilingual programs that few other regions can replicate at scale.
Theme and Strategic Focus: Technology, Language, and Regional Synergy
Participants addressed the overarching theme “Empowerment Through Technology and Interconnection Through Language — Macao-Hengqin Synergy in Joint Cultivation of Chinese-Portuguese International Talent.” Discussions highlighted how artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and cross-border infrastructure can accelerate the training of interdisciplinary professionals fluent in Chinese and Portuguese.
Key sub-forums examined pooling bilingual-plus-professional talent pipelines, AI-enabled humanities communication in new media, and embedding traditional Chinese medicine culture within higher education curricula in Portuguese-speaking countries. These sessions moved beyond abstract policy talk to concrete program designs and partnership models.
High-Level Participation and Official Endorsements
The opening ceremony at Macau University of Science and Technology featured remarks from senior officials including O Lam, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government; representatives from the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government; and rectors from host institutions such as the University of Macau, Macao Polytechnic University, City University of Macau, and University of Saint Joseph.
Speakers emphasized alignment with national development strategies, including Macao’s Third Five-Year Plan and synergies with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Emphasis was placed on leveraging the forthcoming Macao-Hengqin International Education Town to scale joint degree programs and research initiatives.
Landmark Cooperation Agreements Signed
During the opening, multiple memoranda of understanding were formalized. Notable signings included partnerships between Macao University of Tourism and NOVA University Lisbon; Macau University of Science and Technology with the National University of Timor-Leste and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte; and City University of Macau with the University of Cape Verde, Pedagogical University of Maputo, and Communication University of China.
Additional agreements linked the University of Saint Joseph with Yangzhou University and Macau Millennium College with institutions in Cape Verde, Portugal, and China. These pacts target student mobility, joint research, and curriculum co-development in priority fields such as tourism, health sciences, and media studies.
Site Visit Highlights Hengqin Integration Potential
Delegates toured the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to examine plans for the Macao-Hengqin International Education Town. The visit showcased infrastructure supporting cross-border campuses, shared research facilities, and streamlined talent flows between Macao institutions and mainland partners.
Officials outlined how this “Macao + Hengqin” model will facilitate dual-degree offerings, industry-linked internships, and expanded Portuguese-language instruction for mainland students while providing Lusophone partners access to Chinese technological and economic ecosystems.
Implications for Talent Cultivation and Internationalization
The forum outcomes point to accelerated internationalization of Chinese higher education through Lusophone channels. By prioritizing bilingual competence alongside professional skills in AI, media, and traditional medicine, participating institutions aim to produce graduates equipped for roles in diplomacy, trade, healthcare, and cultural exchange.
Macao’s established Portuguese-language programs, combined with Hengqin’s development incentives, position the region to address skill shortages in both China and Portuguese-speaking countries. University leaders noted rising demand for professionals who can navigate Belt and Road Initiative projects and community of Portuguese Language Countries initiatives.
Perspectives from Participating Institutions
Rectors highlighted practical benefits: expanded research consortia, faculty exchanges, and co-authored publications. Brazilian and African university representatives stressed the value of accessing Chinese expertise in emerging technologies while contributing perspectives on sustainable development and linguistic diversity.
Macao-based leaders underscored the forum’s role in reinforcing the SAR’s positioning as an education hub, complementing ongoing investments in smart campus infrastructure and cross-border academic pathways.
Photo by Zalfa Imani on Unsplash
Future Outlook and Broader Regional Impact
Looking ahead, organizers anticipate follow-up working groups to operationalize agreements and monitor progress on joint programs. The integration of AI tools into language and humanities education emerged as a recurring priority, alongside efforts to mainstream traditional Chinese medicine within Lusophone curricula.
As Macao advances its education-town vision in Hengqin, the forum is expected to catalyze additional partnerships, potentially influencing national policies on international student recruitment and transnational education. Continued alignment with Forum Macao mechanisms will further embed higher education within broader economic and cultural cooperation frameworks.
University administrators and policymakers alike view these developments as foundational for long-term people-to-people connectivity between China and the Portuguese-speaking world.
