The graduation ceremony of Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) for the 2019/2020 academic year was held simultaneously online and on-site on the afternoon of October 22 in its Sports Pavilion. Degrees were conferred on a total of 700 graduates. At the solemn graduation ceremony, the national flag was raised and the national anthem was played. Ao Ieong U, representative of the Chief Executive and Chancellor of MPI, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, underscored that the SAR government will continue to support MPI in implementing the policy of "attaching dual emphasis to teaching and research", so as to train more talents and produce better scientific research results for Macao and the country.

The graduation ceremony was officiated by Ao Ieong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Professor Lei Heong Io, President of the MPI Council and Professor Im Sio Kei, President of MPI. Guests attending the event also included Hong Bo, Deputy Minister of Education and Youth Affairs of the Liaison Office, Mr. Zheng Xinyou, Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the Council of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, and parents and relatives of the graduates. A total of 2000 audience members witnessed the important moment of the new milestone.

At the graduation ceremony, Ao Ieong U congratulated the graduates and their parents, and expressed thanks and gratitude to the dedicated faculty and staff. Ao Ieong U said that since the establishment of the Macao SAR government, higher education has developed rapidly. While expanding its scale, the level and quality of education have been constantly improved. In recent years, the SAR government has continuously improved policy support, increased resource input, optimized the allocation of educational resources, and promoted the comprehensive and balanced development of higher education. She pointed out that MPI has trained nearly 20,000 talents who love the country and Macao, serving in various fields of social and economic development and making important contributions to the development of the country and Macao. The SAR government will continue to support MPI in implementing its management philosophy of "attaching equal importance to teaching and research", giving full play to its advantages in training practical talents and carrying out applied research, and helping Macao build "one centre, one platform and one base", so as to train more excellent talents and create better scientific research results for Macao and the country. At the same time, it is hoped that MPI will integrate with the industry, education and research, to provide support and impetus to Macao's moderately diversified economic development.

In his speech, Professor Im Sio Kei congratulated the students on overcoming the challenges brought by the coronavirus epidemic and successfully completing their studies at the Macao Polytechnic Institute. He introduced the development of MPI's teaching and research, including the establishment of the first engineering research centre in the Hong Kong and Macao regions by the Ministry of Education; MPI is the first and only tertiary institute in Macao to be awarded the "National Teaching Achievement Award" issued every four years by the Ministry of Education. Most of MPI’s programmes have been accredited by international authorities, including the first postgraduate accreditation in Macao by the International Engineering Organization (IET) this semester. MPI students won "China's National Youth Science and Technology Innovation Award"; for two consecutive years, MPI students have also won the China "Internet+" University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition organized by the Ministry of Education. All these achievements and honours testify to the national and international recognition and reputation of MPI's model of talent training and our supreme quality of teaching. He said that graduating students must stick to their original aspirations, inherit the spirit of patriotism and the love of Macao, and have a global vision; they must shoulder their mission, establish lofty goals and ambitions, and capitalize on the country’s “Belt and Road” initiative and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; they must be brave to explore, work hard, and forge ahead courageously to contribute to the development of the country and Macao.

Representative of graduates Ku Chong Ian, of the Bachelor of Public Administration programme, gave a speech of appreciation. She thanked her parents for their support, trust and encouragement; thanked the professors of MPI for their care, guidance and cultivation; and thanked the Macao SAR government for its great attention and care to the students of higher education institutions over the years. She said that in the severe period of the coronavirus epidemic, MPI’s immediate response has allowed the students to enjoy a busy and fruitful graduation life. Facing this special graduation season, they overcame challenges, thrived and continued to set off on their new path. In the end, she expressed on behalf of all graduates that in the future, while shouldering social responsibilities and missions, she will continue to bravely pursue truth and dreams, contribute to society, and win glory for her alma mater.

At the graduation ceremony, the music programme coordinator Associate Professor Maria Vanessa Leão led the choir of MPI to sing the songs "My Country and My Motherland" and "Wish You the Best All the Way", wishing all the guests and graduates a good journey ahead. The ceremony ended successfully amidst joy and happiness.