On 17 June 2026, a delegation led by Professor Helena Carreiras, Rector of the ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, and Ricardo Paes Mamede, Vice Rector of the ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, visited Macau Millennium College (“MMC” or the “College”). Professor Zhong Weihe, Rector of MMC, together with relevant College leaders, warmly received the guests. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on talent cultivation, discipline development, scientific research cooperation, and cultural and artistic exchanges and looked ahead to future opportunities for cooperation.

Professor Helena Carreiras and her delegation toured the campus, teaching facilities, and cultural and artistic spaces of MMC. They gained a comprehensive understanding of the College’s educational philosophy, disciplinary characteristics, international development achievements, and its recent explorations and practices in the field of cultural and arts education. The two parties exchanged views on the trend towards internationalisation in higher education, cross-cultural talent cultivation models, and cooperation mechanisms between Chinese and Portuguese higher education institutions.

During the symposium, Professor Zhong Weihe extended a warm welcome to Professor Helena Carreiras and her delegation. He noted that Macao, as an important platform for exchange and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, possesses unique advantages in promoting mutual cultural learning and educational cooperation between China and Portugal. As a highly influential institution of higher learning in Portugal, the ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon has achieved remarkable results in fields such as social sciences, management, cultural studies, and international cooperation. The establishment of this partnership will further expand the international cooperation network of MMC, providing a broader platform for academic exchange and international development for faculty and students of both sides. Professor Helena Carreiras spoke highly of the achievements made by MMC in international education and the promotion of culture and the arts. She stated that Macao’s unique historical and cultural background, characterised by the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, creates great potential for future cooperation between the two institutions. She expressed the hope that, taking the signing of the memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) as an opportunity, the two sides would achieve more substantive outcomes in cultural and artistic exchange, research collaboration, faculty and student exchange, and the development of joint projects, and jointly promote deeper cooperation in higher education between China and Portugal.

Previously, during the 4th Forum for Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries, MMC and the ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon officially signed an MoU, marking a new milestone in the partnership between the two institutions. According to the MoU, both parties will leverage their respective strengths to conduct multi-level and multi-form exchanges and cooperation in fields such as cultural and artistic exchange, academic cooperation, faculty and student visits, lectures and workshops, and exhibition collaborations, jointly promoting the sharing of higher education resources and collaborative innovation between China and Portugal.