In an effort to leverage the Sino-Portuguese platform and bolster Macao's diversified economic strategy in line with the "1+4" principle, Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) and the University of Coimbra (UC) are set to launch a dual doctoral degree programme in Information Technology. Graduates of the programme will be conferred doctoral degrees from both esteemed universities. The goal of this initiative is to foster the growth of exceptional international tech talents, thereby accelerating the expansion of high-tech industries within Macao and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Prof. Im Sio Kei, Rector of Macao Polytechnic University, underscored MPU's ongoing commitment to collaborate with top-tier global universities in order to elevate Macao's higher education to international standards. The University of Coimbra, a public university with a rich history spanning over 700 years, continues to be a global front-runner in teaching and research. The collaborative relationship between MPU and UC has thrived for over a decade, yielding a wide array of successful joint ventures and significantly advancing Sino-Portuguese academic collaboration. The two universities have embarked on practical initiatives, such as the dual doctoral programmes and the establishment of the MPU-UC Joint Research Laboratory in Advanced Technology for Smart Cities, to bolster both teaching and research capabilities. Furthermore, both universities are jointly nurturing international tech talents, contributing to the creation of habitable smart cities and the growth of high-tech industries in both Macao and Portugal.

The dual doctoral degree programme in Information Technology, jointly offered by MPU and UC, takes three years to complete. Students from MPU’s Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Applied Technology programme and UC’s Doctor of Philosophy in Informatics Engineering programme are eligible to apply to this programme. Participants will spend two years studying at their home institution, followed by a year at the partner university, with their research thesis supervised jointly by advisors from both universities. This programme provides students with a trans-regional research platform and numerous academic exchange opportunities. It allows them to delve into advanced research in areas such as computer science, artificial intelligence, big data, and technology communication, thereby nurturing a new generation of top-tier scientific researchers and innovators.