Macao Polytechnic Institute and the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN) jointly organized the International Conference on The New Frontiers of Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance in Higher Education. More than 30 renowned experts and scholars from more than 10 countries and regions in Europe, Oceania and Asia gathered in Macao to discuss the various factors affecting the quality of teaching and learning and to share the innovation and frontier development of quality assurance. The participants shared their academic experience and they found the conference a very fruitful one.

The International Conference on The New Frontiers of Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance in Higher Education, opened on 23 November 14:30 at MPI. The opening ceremony was officiated by Professor Jianxin Zhang, President of the Asia-Pacific Quality Network, Professor Alberto Amaral, President of the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education, Portugal, Ms Maureen McLaughin, Head of Universities & Standards of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), UK, Dr Pauline Tang, CEO of THE-ICE (International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education) and Vice President of INQAAHE board, Dr Jagannath Patil, Immediate Past President of the Asia Pacific Quality Network together with Professor Lei Heong Iok, President of MPI. In his opening address, Professor Lei Heong Iok stated that this is the eighth conference that MPI have organised in the series of quality assurance; Professor Lei added that quality assurance on teaching and learning is the primary task of higher education. Higher education institutions are committed to provide the best possible learning experience for students and to foster high quality professionals who contribute to national and regional development. Professor Lei explained that MPI started to take up external academic review exercises in 2011 in order to benchmark its education provision to internationally recognised quality standards. MPI has been making significant progress and has succesfully completed the Institutional review by QAA; also, the majority of MPI's programmes have already passed the programme accreditation or professional certification.

Professor Jianxin Zhang, President of Asia-Pacific Quality Network, congratulated the success of this conference on behalf of the Board of Directors of the organization and 174 member organizations from 39 countries and regions of the Asia-Pacific region. Professor Zhang said that the organisation of the conference has great significance for the promotion of quality assurance in teaching and learning. The international conference on quality assurance that MPI organised exemplifies “international vision” and “localisation action”, which makes MPI one of the most outstanding examples in APQN. In 2015, MPI was awarded an APQN Quality Award. It is hoped that in 2017 MPI can share its experience on academic quality assurance in the APQN academic annual meeting which will be held in Moscow, Russia.

In the conference, Professor Alberto Amaral introduced the challenges encountered in cross-border higher education; Dr Jagannath Patil explained the way to enhance international student experience through quality assurance framework; Professor Jianxin Zhang talked about the current five characteristics and methods of teaching quality assurance in higher education; Ms Maureen McLaughlin shared the current development of higher education in the UK and Dr Pauline Tang discussed the role of higher education and training in a changing socio-economic environment. The participants had an enthusiastic exchange of academic achievements and found this sharing of insights and experience to be very beneficial.

MPI strives to continuously improve its level of teaching and learning. Since 2009, MPI has held conferences annually for experts and scholars from local and overseas countries/regions to share their latest insights in higher education to promote international exchange and cooperation. This year’s conference was held over 2 days starting on 23 November with more than 30 presenters coming from countries and regions such as the UK, Portugal, Australia, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. A total of more than 200 people participated. The conference witnessed a very fruitful exchange of ideas.

• Hou Kong Daily News
• Tai Chung Daily News
• Macao Daily Times