City’s first speech therapy degree programme to be offered at MPI

With the support of the Social Welfare Bureau, the Health Bureau and the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) will offer the city’s first Bachelor’s degree programme in Speech-Language Therapy in 2017/2018. Starting from December 2016, this programme will be open for admission application.

The press conference on this programme was held at MPI on 24 November 2016, followed by an information session tailored for interested candidates on 26 November 2016. The press conference was officiated by Ms Vong Yim Mui, President of Social Welfare Bureau, Ms Kuok Sio Lai, Acting Director of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Professor Lei Heong Iok, President of MPI, and Mr Cheang Seng Ip, Deputy Director of Health Bureau. Professor Lei noted that this programme was designed to meet the growing need for speech therapists in Macao and aims to prepare local graduates to be qualified practitioners who can provide speech therapy services in Cantonese and Mandarin. The information session attracted about 300 participants, who expressed interests in applying for this programme.

This programme is the first of its kind being offered in Macao. The programme design aligns with the development of the industry and has an emphasis on clinical practice. With a faculty formed by academics from both MPI and the Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan, this programme provides an opportunity for students to study and carry out clinical practice in Taiwan for two years. Graduates will receive the qualifications required of a speech therapist. Upon registration at the Health Bureau, they can practise as speech therapists at hospitals, medical and social service providers, educational institutions and other public or private organisations.

Interested candidates may apply for admission to this programme via MPI’s Macao Secondary School Principal Recommendation Scheme or online, during the period from 13 December 2016 to 20 January 2017, at www.ipm.edu.mo/admission. For any enquiries, please contact the Registry of MPI at 8599 6111 / 6103 / 6149.。