Recently, Prof. Wanlei Zhou, vice rector and dean of the Faculty of Data Science (FDS), led a delegation from City University of Macau (CityU) to Hainan to attend the opening ceremony of the Hainan International College at Minzu University of China (MUC) for 2025. This year marks the successful entry into the third year of the joint undergraduate education program in Data Science and Big Data Technology, co-hosted by CityU and MUC. The first cohort of students has arrived in Macao in August to begin their studies under the guidance of our international faculty team.Accompanying the delegation were Pro-Rector Wicky So Kam Hung, FDS Associate Dean Liu Wenjian, and Program Coordinator Chris Chu Chia-Wei, who witnessed the further development of the collaborative education initiative between the two universities.

 

The opening ceremony was held in the Hainan Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone. Professor Wanlei Zhou, as a special guest, delivered a speech on behalf of CityU, extending a warm welcome to the 113 freshmen enrolled in the joint program in Data Science and Big Data Technology. Drawing from his own experience taking the college entrance examination (commonly known the “Gaokao”), he emphasized the importance of “always be prepared for what’s to come” and the “can do” spirit. He reflected on how these two mindsets have guided him through his academic journey and career, enabling him to seize many opportunities along the way.In terms of mastering data science and big data technology, Vice Rector Zhou highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary studies and encouraged the 2025 cohort to strive for academic success by taking “data as the vessel and interdisciplinary learning as the bridge” in the artificial intelligence era. He further explained the importance of lifelong learning by sharing his own practice of reading 5 to 10 academic papers weekly.

During their stays in Hainan, CityU delegation held a meeting with MUC leaders. Vice Rector Wanlei Zhou introduced the University’s recent achievements in data science, including laboratory development, corporate collaboration projects, and competition results, emphasizing its commitment to providing students with diverse practical platforms. He stated that the University will continue to strengthen faculty exchanges and the program curriculum, aiming to strive for better implementation of the joint program with international competitiveness.

Professor Qiang Shigong, deputy party secretary of Minzu University of China, highly affirmed the achievements of the collaboration between the two institutions. He noted that the undergraduate program in Data Science and Big Data Technology has become a model for advancing cooperative education. He emphasized the need for further resource integration, strengthening the development of a full English curriculum system, exploring interdisciplinary directions, and enhancing students’ employability through practical internships and research collaborations. 

The undergraduate program in Data Science and Big Data Technology is a collaborative educational initiative approved by the Ministry of Education in October 2022, involving cooperation between mainland China and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. It is jointly organized by Minzu University of China and City University of Macau, with official enrollment starting in 2023. As the first program established by a Macao university in collaboration with a mainland university in the Hainan International Education Innovation Pilot Zone, both parties aim to build an internationally influential model for educational innovation in the field of data science, cultivating high-quality talent with both knowledge and expertise, as well as a global perspective for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Port.Source: Facutly of Data Science