TOPIC INSIGHT • 專題探討 33 2024 UMAGAZINE 30 • 澳大新語 also foster a stronger sense of belonging to the country among students.’ Nurturing Legal Professionals To ensure a comprehensive legal education, UM offers two dedicated courses—one on the Constitution and another on the Basic Law—as part of its four undergraduate law programmes, as well as certain master’s programmes. These two courses consist of theoretical and practical lessons, adding up to 120 hours of learning. Winnie Li, a second-year FLL student and member of Henry Fok Pearl Jubilee College, says, ‘In secondary school, we only got a brief introduction to the Constitution and the Basic Law in our moral and civic education lessons. But at UM, I have the opportunity to gain a deeper, more thorough understanding of the two laws.’ As a high-achieving student in the courses on the two laws, Li was nominated to take part in the ‘Macao Basic Law Youth Ambassadors Training Programme’ of the Macao Basic Law Promotion Association. There, she met many law students, as well as UM alumni who are now practising lawyers, giving her valuable opportunities to seek advice on planning her own legal career. Prof Jiang mentions that many of Macao’s judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and other legal professionals are FLL graduates, adding that it is crucial for such graduates to have a thorough understanding of both the Constitution and the Basic Law. ‘The Basic Law was enacted by the National People’s Congress under the Constitution, and Macao is a local administrative region directly under the Central People’s Government and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. If students do not have a clear understanding of these key concepts, they may encounter challenges in their legal careers, which could lead to confusion when it comes to applying the laws,’ he explains. Enhancing Research and Community Engagement on the Constitution and the Basic Law In addition to its teaching efforts, UM’s Centre for Constitutional Law and Basic Law Studies has partnered with leading universities across mainland China to develop talent in conducting research on the Constitution and the Basic Law. These collaborations have led to academic seminars, joint research projects, and exchange programmes for master’s and students from each of the ten residential colleges are recommended for a three-week training programme. They are then asked to give a presentation on the Constitution and the Basic Law to their peers within the college. Ultimately, one student from each college is selected to become the college’s ambassador for the promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law and a member of the Student Workgroup for the Enhancement of Affection for Home Country. These ambassadors, together with a few outstanding FLL students, are then nominated to participate in the ‘Macao Basic Law Youth Ambassadors Training Programme’ organised by the Macao Basic Law Promotion Association. Chen Yinglu, a second-year FLL student and member of Moon Chun Memorial College, was one of the ambassadors nominated to attend the association’s training programme in June 2024. She says, ‘As a law student, I know how important the Constitution and the Basic Law are to Macao, and I want to help raise public awareness about them. The programme has not just given me a deeper understanding of these laws. It has also equipped me with valuable skills in event planning and public relations, which have been helpful in my efforts to promote the two laws.’ As a Macao Basic Law Youth Ambassador, Chen has visited primary and secondary schools across Macao to promote knowledge about the Constitution and the Basic Law. She believes that a relaxed, interactive teaching style is the best way to engage younger students. ‘I have found that national flag, emblem, and anthem are excellent topics to start with. By sharing the stories behind these symbols, we not only make the lessons more engaging, but 賴冠儒教授 Prof Lai Kuan Ju
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