Macao: magnetic Chinese hub with multiple charms

APPEAL OF HIGHER LEARNING

Yanick De Almeida, a freshman at the University of Macao (UM), chose this city for its reputation as a calm and secure place to live. When the young Angolan arrived, he was pleasantly surprised by what he found.

"I initially thought Macao would be like the Chinese mainland, where everyone speaks Putonghua," Almeida said. "But I quickly discovered that many of my fellow students here also speak Portuguese or English."

For Sofia Costa, an exchange student from the University of Porto in Portugal, studying in Macao has been a transformative journey of personal and professional growth. Currently studying supramolecular chemistry and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at UM, she described learning TCM as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Immersing myself in Chinese medicine has been a fascinating experience," Sofia said. "I'm confident that the knowledge I gain here will be invaluable throughout my career."

Data from UM shows that the university currently hosts more than 350 international students from about 50 countries and regions, including the United States and Japan, marking a 360 percent increase compared to a decade ago.

UM is one of 10 higher education institutions in Macao, a city with a population of about 690,000. Among them, the Macao University of Science and Technology (MUST) stands out as a prime example of the SAR's growing appeal as an academic destination.

Founded in 2000, MUST has rapidly developed into the largest multi-disciplinary university in Macao, enrolling approximately 23,000 students, 94 percent of whom come from outside the SAR.

Over the past 25 years, Macao's academic reputation has grown significantly. As the historical site of St. Paul's College -- the first university in the Far East -- Macao continues to build on its legacy of higher education. Today, UM ranks among the top 250 universities globally, underscoring the SAR's commitment to academic excellence.