The final stop of the Development of City and Culture Exchange Program 2024 was held in Macao and took place at Choi Kai Yau College (CKYC) of the University of Macau (UM) from 19 to 22 January 2025.
The Development of City and Culture Exchange Program was launched in October 2018, jointly initiated by Fengru College of Beihang University, Meng Xiancheng College of East China Normal University, and CKYC of UM. In spring 2019, Chongshi College of Xi’an Jiaotong University joined the programme, forming a four-college alliance. Students from the four colleges, located in eastern, western, southern, and northern China respectively, visit each other every spring, summer, autumn, and winter for cultural exchange activities. To date, the four colleges have visited Shanghai in the spring, Xi’an in the summer, Beijing in the autumn, and Macao in the winter.
During their time at UM, students from the four colleges were divided into five study groups focusing on residential college education, culture of Macao, economy of Macao, innovation and entrepreneurship, and patriotism. On the first day, they participated in ice-breaking activities such as ‘Give or Gain’, reaction games, group challenges, and portrait drawing games where they drew their group mates. The atmosphere was filled with joy and harmony, and the students deepened their friendships.
The students from the four colleges also visited the UM campus, including the Currency Museum and the ISCG Gaming Laboratory, as well as various residential colleges—CKYC, Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College, Cheong Kun Lun College, and Chao Kuang Piu College. They learned about UM’s ‘4-in-1’ and student-centred whole-person education model. Guided by CKYC students, the participants experienced Macao from different perspectives by exploring the urban landscape, tasting local delicacies, visiting world heritage sites, and learning about the city’s history and culture. In addition, guided by Studio City Macau staff, the participants learned about the latest developments in Macao’s tourism industry. They also enjoyed a barbecue at Hac Sá Beach and took part in the Spring Festival Garden Party and an escape room challenge prepared by the CKYC House Association to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
The four-day exchange programme, which featured a variety of activities and in-depth exchanges, concluded with a closing ceremony. The students shared their experiences and impressions of Macao, and talked about the deep friendships they had made. At the end of the closing ceremony, the students and faculty bid farewell with fond memories and expressed their excitement to meet again in Shanghai next spring.