In a statement, UM said that the new center “will promote interdisciplinary collaboration in research and advanced education” at the intersection of law and AI. The institution cited as examples “joint research projects, staff training, the organization of international conferences,” and faculty and student exchanges.
UM emphasizes that the new initiative represents “a significant expansion” of cooperation with the Portuguese university in the field of legal studies.
In October 2024, the two institutions signed an agreement to create a joint doctoral program in the field of Health “and neuroscience in particular,” UM’s Vice-Rector for External Relations, João Nuno Calvão da Silva, told the Lusa news agency at the time.
A year earlier, UC and UM established a joint laboratory to study cognitive aging and address the needs arising from increased life expectancy.
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The agreement to establish the new joint center on Law and AI was signed on April 20 by UM Rector Song Yonghua, who was in Lisbon as part of the delegation accompanying Macao’s Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai. On the same occasion, UM signed an agreement with the University of Lisbon (ULisboa), which will support the creation of Macao’s first public medical school.
Graduates of the joint bachelor’s degree program at UM’s future School of Medicine, scheduled to open in 2028, will be able to write a thesis to complete ULisboa’s integrated master’s degree.
UM emphasized on the 28th that doctors trained in this manner will be able to obtain recognition and practice medicine not only in Macau, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Portugal, but also throughout the European Union.
Also in Lisbon, UM signed an agreement with IPLuso – the Lusophone Polytechnic Institute – and the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to “promote educational and research cooperation in Chinese medicine.” The partnership will leverage the resources of the three institutions to train professionals in traditional Chinese medicine, capitalizing on “Macau’s unique role as a bridge between China and Portugal.”
