On 8 October 2026, the Faculty of Innovation Engineering (FIE) of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) organized an exchange visit and welcomed representatives from four local secondary schools to campus for discussions and collaboration. The visiting guests included Principal Cheung Wai Ling of Colégio Mateus Ricci, Principal Lao Lai Mui from Our Lady of Fátima Girls' School, Principal Kan Soi Chun from Santa Rosa de Lima Chinese Secondary School, and Vice Principal Cheong Yin Yi from Sacred Heart Canossian College English Section. The event was joined by Chairman Lai Kin Weng and Women’s Committee Director Tan Guan Leng of the Macau Institution of Engineers, General Manager Cheong Chi Ha of iN Systems (Macao) Ltd., and General Manager Yan Yin Ying of Xia Ding Technology Inc. The delegation was warmly received by Assistant Dean Yang Lei of FIE, with Professor Wong Chun Kau and Faculty Secretary Wong Lai Man participating in the reception. The discussion focused on strategies for nurturing local female talent in science, technology, and engineering, helping young women establish clear career goals and directions, inspiring future development opportunities, and extending such initiatives to the junior secondary level. The aim is to provide students with more diverse learning experiences and career-planning pathways.
Group Photo of Guests
The guests first visited the MUST Liu’s Innovation and Technology Center, where they gained an in-depth understanding of the Faculty's research achievements and laboratory facilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, biomedical engineering, advanced materials, and frontier technologies.
Visit to the MUST Liu's Innovation and Technology Center
Following the tour, a discussion was held. Several principals shared the challenges currently faced by secondary school students in career planning, including limited understanding of engineering and technology professions, restrictions within existing curriculum frameworks, uncertainty regarding future career directions, and parental stereotypes toward applied technology and engineering-related disciplines.
The schools expressed hopes of strengthening collaboration between universities and industry partners so that students can gain early exposure to cutting-edge technologies and authentic industrial environments. Such experiences would broaden their horizons, enhance creativity and resilience, and cultivate problem-solving skills, interdisciplinary thinking, and an innovative mindset.
During the meeting, the Faculty of Innovation Engineering introduced a range of ongoing collaborative initiatives with secondary schools, including the Youth Talent Programme, Research Internship Programme for Senior Secondary Students, Summer Camps, Laboratory Visits, and Professor-led Research Training Programmes. Through the support of university faculty members and researchers, students receive continuous guidance throughout their research exploration journey, enabling them to better understand various academic disciplines and future educational pathways.
Exchange Meeting and Discussion Session
This exchange highlighted the close partnership between the Faculty of Innovation Engineering, the four participating secondary schools, and the engineering sector in Macau. By building an integrated technology education ecosystem that connects universities, secondary schools, industry partners, and professional associations, MUST will continue to deepen collaboration with the four schools. Future initiatives will include campus talks, technology workshops, research internships, and interdisciplinary innovation competitions, allowing students to gain first-hand experience of technology and engineering applications in the real world. At the same time, professors, female engineers, and industry leaders will share their personal growth stories and career experiences to encourage more female students to explore disciplines such as engineering, artificial intelligence, and innovative technologies.
The Macau Institution of Engineers also expressed its commitment to supporting schools and universities in promoting youth technology education. Leveraging its extensive experience in organizing technology and engineering competitions, the Institution aims to provide secondary school students with more opportunities to gain practical experience and showcase their talents. Representatives from participating enterprises further shared industry perspectives on the demand for innovative technology talent. Through internships, collaborative projects, and real-world case studies, they hope to help students better understand future workplace trends at an earlier stage.
