The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) at the University of Macau (UM) held a student orientation event for the sixth cohort of its Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) programme. This year’s cohort comprises 33 students, including senior management personnel and civil servants from Macao, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and other regions.
Speaking at the event, Michael Hui, vice rector of UM, said that this year is particularly significant as it marks UM’s 45th anniversary, as well as the inaugural year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Macao’s Third Five-Year Plan. He noted that, as Macao enters a new phase of transformative development, the DPA programme remains committed to cultivating high-calibre public administration professionals for Macao and the country. He encouraged the new cohort to make full use of UM’s academic platform to enhance their capacity to address emerging governance challenges, thereby contributing to Macao’s integration into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, supporting Macao’s economic diversification, and advancing public administration in China and beyond.
Hu Weixing, dean of FSS, noted that the DPA programme has continued to gain influence and recognition, attracting students from beyond the Greater Bay Area and from an increasingly diverse range of regions. He expressed hope that the programme will continue to cultivate high-calibre professionals capable of addressing the evolving challenges of public administration and governance, while contributing to the development of the Greater Bay Area and the country. Wen Bo, assistant dean of FSS and director of the DPA programme, emphasised that the DPA is an applied, practice-oriented doctoral programme. He encouraged students to move beyond the passive acquisition of knowledge and adopt a more active approach to learning through critical reflection, intellectual dialogue, and independent research. He also encouraged them to maximise their learning opportunities through classroom discussions, faculty mentorship, and practical exchanges, and to identify research topics grounded in real-world public management issues.
Student representatives from the first five DPA cohorts—Lei Choi Hong, Shen Guobin, Liu Yuxi, Shi Yiming, and Zhang Jing—shared their academic experiences at UM. They encouraged the new students to cherish this learning opportunity, actively participate in academic exchanges, and fully immerse themselves in the university’s vibrant campus culture.
The DPA programme is the first Chinese-taught professional doctoral programme in public administration in Greater China. It is dedicated to nurturing high-calibre public administration professionals with strong theoretical foundations and practical expertise. By integrating public administration theory, international comparative perspectives, and advanced research methods, the programme places particular emphasis on developing students’ systems thinking, research and analytical capabilities, and practical skills. Through seminars, study visits, and experiential learning opportunities, the programme broadens students’ international perspectives and equips them to address complex governance challenges and contribute to the development of the Greater Bay Area and the country.
Guests who attended the ceremony also included Cai Tianji, associate dean of FSS, and Wu Yonghong, head of the Department of Government and Public Administration.
