COVER STORY • 封面專題 2025 UMAGAZINE 31 • 澳大新語 9 Building Professional Knowledge and Practical Skills Through Progressive Training UM’s engineering education is closely aligned with industry needs. The university emphasises the development of strong scientific literacy, an innovative spirit, and hands-on practical skills—essential qualities for every engineering student. ‘To nurture students into exceptional engineering professionals, we must develop their ability to integrate scientific knowledge and engineering expertise, while fostering their innovative and critical thinking,’ emphasises FST Dean Prof Xu Cheng-Zhong as he discusses the essentials of engineering education. He highlights the importance of developing students’ practical skills, a focus that is deeply embedded in UM’s engineering education system. All courses and learning activities are designed to provide students with ample opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. Through various laboratory courses and hands-on projects, such as engaging undergraduates in AI-based mini-engineering projects, students significantly enhance their problem-solving skills. Prof Xu also shares the design of postgraduate engineering programmes: ‘From student recruitment and enrolment to coursework, lab work, internship, and career planning, we offer comprehensive support at every step.’ To help new students adapt to university life and build a sense of belonging, FST organises orientation activities at the start of each semester. Additionally, financial support is widely available—52.4 per cent of master’s students receive scholarships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships—ensuring that students can focus on their academic studies. A strong emphasis is placed on hands-on learning, with laboratory components integrated into the core courses of every postgraduate engineering programme. A standout feature is the Showcase Laboratory, which provides students with a platform to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. To deepen students’ understanding of industry practices, the faculty regularly hosts industry seminar series. These events allow students to learn from professionals who share real-world case studies and discuss emerging trends. The two-year master’s programmes also offer flexibility in graduation requirements, enabling students to choose between a project report or an internship instead of a thesis. This innovative approach is designed to enhance students’ practical skills while fostering their ability to think creatively and solve real-world problems. International Exchange and Collaboration UM attaches importance to promoting international academic exchange and research collaboration. Under the coordination of FST, UM has established several joint training programmes in engineering with overseas universities. These include a ‘2+2’ dual PhD degree programme with the University of Lisbon and ‘1+3’ master’s-PhD programmes in collaboration with institutions such as Imperial College London. In addition, UM provides students with opportunities to attend short-term courses abroad, participate in international academic forums, and engage with renowned scholars from around the world. These initiatives not only foster international academic exchange, but also broaden students’ international horizons. Prof Xu notes that in recent years, a growing number of graduates from world-renowned universities have joined FST. Currently, over 80 per cent of FST’s academic staff hold degrees 澳大推進人工智能融入工程專業課程 UM integrates artificial intelligence into its engineering programmes
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