On October 15, Prof. João Nuno Cruz Matos Calvão da Silva, Vice-Rector for External Relations and Alumni Affairs of the University of Coimbra, led a delegation to visit the University of Macau (UM). During the visit, a formal signing ceremony was held to officially confirm UM’s participation in the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Dialogue of Heritages with Portuguese Influence (Patrimónios). As the executive unit of this UNESCO Chair initiative, the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management of the Faculty of Business Administration is deeply involved in the implementation of the project, actively demonstrating its expertise and strong execution capabilities in the fields of cultural heritage research and international collaboration.
Established by the University of Coimbra in 2018, the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Dialogue on Heritages of Portuguese Influence (Patrimónios) aims to promote interdisciplinary education and research focused on various forms of cultural heritage, including architecture, art, language, literature, landscape, and urban planning. It explores the multicultural outcomes derived from the influence of Portuguese-speaking cultures. As an international initiative integrating research, training, and development cooperation, the Chair has established an extensive network of collaborative partners. The inclusion of the University of Macau will further enrich the academic resources and cultural perspectives of this network.
During the signing ceremony, Prof. Rui Paulo da Silva Martins, Vice Rector (Global Affairs) of the University of Macau, and Prof. João Nuno Cruz Matos Calvão da Silva, Vice-Rector of the University of Coimbra, signed the confiramtioin letter on behalf of their respective institutions, confirming the official entry of University of Macau as a key member of the UNESCO Chair project.
Distinguished guests attending the ceremony included Prof. Walter Rossa, who holds the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Dialogue of Heritages with Portuguese Influence (Patrimónios); Prof. Jun Yu, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration of the University of Macau; and Prof. Li Miao, Head of the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management. Following the ceremony, the guests gathered on stage for a commemorative photo to mark this significant occasion.
In addition, the University of Macau and the University of Coimbra exchanged letters of collaboration, expressing their joint commitment to co-establishing the “Luís de Camões Universal Database.” Prof. João Veloso, Head of the Department of Portuguese of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Macau, also joined the photo session, highlighting the deep cooperation between the two institutions in Portuguese cultural studies.
To celebrate the formal signing of this partnership, Prof. Walter Rossa delivered a special lecture to faculty and students of the Faculty of Business Administration, offering an overview of our theoretical, ethical, and political positioning within the context of cultural heritage studies and UNESCO-fostered policies.
Prof. Li Miao moderated the lecture, and Prof. Jun Yu presented the UM souvenir to Prof. Walter Rossa as a gesture of appreciation and warm welcome.
This collaboration not only strengthens UM’s ties with higher education institutions in Portuguese-speaking countries but also injects new momentum into Macau’s development in cultural heritage research and international academic exchange.
