Macao and Portugal agreed to deepen co-operation in Portuguese-language teaching, education and scientific research at the 5th Meeting of the Subcommittee on Portuguese Language and Education of the Macao-Portugal Joint Commission, held recently in Macao.

The meeting brought together officials from both sides, including Florbela Paraíba, President of Camões – Institute for Co-operation and Language, I.P., and Kong Chi Meng, Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau.

The two sides reviewed progress in Portuguese-language teaching in higher education, scientific research and co-operation between schools. Macao also reported on progress in developing the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town.

The Macao Government intends to continue encouraging people to learn Portuguese through training and certification programmes for qualified professionals, as well as through the Continuous Development and Improvement Programme.

The parties agreed to deepen school twinning to expand academic exchanges between teachers and students. Future co-operation is expected to include strengthening teams of teachers of Portuguese nationality in non-tertiary education and identifying training needs.

The training of bilingual Chinese-Portuguese translators was also discussed. In scientific research, both sides gave a positive assessment of the work carried out, and the Portuguese delegation expressed its willingness to expand co-operation in the context of the reorganisation of its education and technology services.

The Subcommittee will continue to co-ordinate and monitor the co-operation projects.

(Source: Plataforma Media, 18 September)