Education and Youth Work for the 2026/2027 Academic Year
MACAU, August 31 - According to the statistics of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), in the 2026/2027 academic year, there are 10 higher education institutions in Macao, with approximately 70,000 enrolled students. In non-higher education (formal and recurrent education), there are 75 schools operating across 118 school units, including the school for Macao children located in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Among these, 105 school units are covered under the free education network, benefitting approximately 80,000 non-higher education students.
Supporting the expansion of collaboration among higher education institutions and advancing the development of a talent hub
The DSEDJ actively aligns with the national ‘15th Five-Year Plan’ and the ‘Education Development 15th Five-Year Plan’, following the guiding principle of integrated development of ‘education, technology and talent’. It coordinates Macao’s higher education institutions to extend their teaching operations to the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin in phases, and deepens the planning and construction arrangements for the Macao–Hengqin International Education (University) Town. The DSEDJ has also initiated the establishment of the Macao Sub-Centre of the Regional University–Industry Technology Transfer Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area), which has commenced trial operations. The DSEDJ promotes the differentiated development of higher education institutions, in line with national and regional development needs, by balancing the distribution of academic disciplines with industrial demands, with a focus on strengthening the development of science and engineering, emerging disciplines and interdisciplinary fields. The first phase of the University Town project was inaugurated in August 2026, with the University of Macau, Macao Polytechnic University and Macao University of Tourism already moved into the campus, offering 39 postgraduate programmes covering areas such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics, big data and the Internet of Things, and cultural and creative industries management. Joint programmes offered by Macao’s higher education institutions in collaboration with universities worldwide and in the Chinese mainland will gradually be extended to the Cooperation Zone. The DSEDJ supports higher education institutions in strengthening international cooperation and attracting international students, promotes joint training programmes with renowned overseas higher education institutions, and expands the coverage of funding projects under the ‘Annual Funding Plan for Higher Education Institutions’ to support local private higher education institutions in advancing more internationalisation projects.
Promoting AI education and supporting professional development of teaching staff
In line with the Quadro da organização curricular da educação regular do regime escolar local (‘Curriculum Framework for Formal Education of Local Education System’) and the extension of the Requirements of Basic Academic Attainments to senior secondary level, supplementary teaching materials on artificial intelligence and a localised smart teaching service solution will be introduced in the new academic year. In addition, teachers and students can access the high-quality resources of the ‘Smart Education of China’ through Macao One Account. Furthermore, collaboration with Macao’s state key laboratories will be strengthened to offer teacher training programmes featuring diverse teaching application scenarios, thereby enhancing teachers’ capacity to develop AI curricula and apply AI in teaching. Under the ‘Subsidy Scheme for School Development’ of the Education Fund, a new funding theme of ‘Artificial Intelligence Laboratories’ has been added to promote the implementation of smart teaching and to nurture talents that meet the needs of the new era.
Broadening experiences through activities, clarifying career aspirations for a promising future
The DSEDJ actively builds diverse learning and exchange platforms to encourage students and young people to participate in competitions, exchanges and practices in areas such as culture, science popularisation, arts and sports. These efforts promote interdisciplinary exploration and broaden international perspectives and comprehensive competencies. In order to further establish a comprehensive national security education system, national security themes are integrated into existing camp activities, guiding students and young people to understand the multifaceted nature of national security and deepen their awareness of it.
The DSEDJ continues to strengthen cross-departmental collaboration to provide systematic support in areas such as job matching, pre-employment counselling and career exploration. By working closely with families, schools and enterprises, it helps students and young people clarify their career directions, make a smooth transition to the workplace and expand their future development prospects. It actively leverages the strengths of collaboration with associations to carry out initiatives that support Macao students studying outside Macao, strengthen their connections with Macao’s development, and foster a sense of belonging, thereby creating favourable conditions for students and young people to pursue their desired career pathways.
Aligning with policy planning and enhancing operational management
In line with the policy objectives and measures set out in the ‘Outline of the Medium- and Long-Term Development of Higher Education in Macao (2021–2030)’, the ‘Medium- and Long-Term Planning for Non-Tertiary Education (2021-2030)’, and the ‘Macao Youth Policy (2021-2030)’, the Education Fund has launched the ‘Subsidy Scheme for Addressing Declining Birth Rates’, which includes a two-year package of ‘Transitional Pre-primary Education Subsidy Support Measure’, ‘School Transformation Subsidy’, ‘School Merger Subsidy’, ‘Transformational Training Grant’, and ‘Subsidy for “Second Classroom” Education’. The ‘Youth Indicators of Macao 2026’ Social Survey will be conducted, and the regular communication activity ‘Meeting with Young People’ will be organised to leverage the practical functions of the Youth Advisory Groups. The ‘Continuing Education and Development Scheme 2026-2029’ has been launched, providing funding for eligible higher education programmes, continuing education courses, driving practice courses and certification examinations offered by local and non-local institutions, thereby creating favourable conditions for lifelong learning and fostering a learning society.
Sports for fitness, health networking for campus protection
In the new academic year, the ‘Dynamic Schools’ initiative will continue to be promoted, guiding students to develop regular exercise habits and strengthen their physical fitness, while optimising physical education teaching resources and support facilities. A new ‘Campus Sports Elite Training Base’ programme, jointly launched across departments, will introduce professional coaching resources to identify talented student athletes at an early stage, strengthen the talent pipeline for competitive school sports, and build up Macao’s sporting competitiveness. A systematic approach to student health promotion will be implemented, with cross-departmental collaboration to carry out the ‘Schoolchildren Health Care Programme’ and oral health care service, supporting schools in implementing health measures and bringing medical resources onto campus, so as to jointly establish a comprehensive campus health support network that safeguards students’ physical and mental development.
To further strengthen the protection mechanism for youth development, the ‘Interdepartmental Safeguarding Network for the Promotion of Youth Development’ will, through regular meetings, monthly reporting and the production of early warning teaching resources such as ‘Legal Knowledge Teenagers Should Know’, work to prevent adolescents from engaging in deviant behaviour or becoming victims of harm. Continuous efforts will be made to strengthen resources for the 24-hour student counselling hotline and online consultation platforms, increase support during non-school hours, and provide outreach support as and when needed.
Integrating into the national development landscape and fostering a sense of patriotism and national identity
This year marks the 105th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China and the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. To encourage schools to continuously enhance the quality of history education and to carry forward and promote the spirit of patriotism, the DSEDJ will produce special teaching resources for the ‘First Lesson of the Academic Year’, launch the ‘Moral and Civic Education Curriculum Guide’, and promote the ‘Specialised Evaluation of History Education in Macao Secondary Schools’. The DSEDJ will also organise or subsidise study tours for teachers and students to historical sites in the Chinese mainland, hold student essay competitions and film screenings on related themes, and collaborate with the National Museum of China to curate a new exhibition at the Love the Motherland, Love Macao Education Base for Young People. The ‘Affection for Family and Country—Extended Education Programme’ and the ‘Patriotic Education Camp’ will be continuously refined to guide young students to gain an in-depth understanding of the Chinese nation’s relentless journey of self-improvement and to foster a deep sense of patriotism and national identity.
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