Macao, May 21, 2025 – In response to the country's strategic plan for Macao's industry diversification, Wynn and the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) have jointly initiated an international student recruitment program that provides scholarships for overseas students enrolled in specific master's degree programs at MUST. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony was held yesterday (May 20) at Wynn Palace, where Ms. Linda Chen, President and Executive Director of Wynn Resorts (Macau), S.A, and Chair Professor Joseph Lee, Vice-Chancellor and President of MUST, signed the MOU in the presence of Mr. Kong Chi Meng, Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ).

Ms. Linda Chen noted in her speech that: "This collaboration is not only an active response to the Macao SAR Government's '1+4' adequate economic diversification drive but also marks a strategic breakthrough in the in-depth industry-academia integration and the building of an ecosystem for cultivating new talent. As President Xi Jinping indicated last December, Macao must continue to elevate local tertiary education to the international level, forge closer links with tertiary institutes in Portuguese-speaking countries and countries joining the Belt and Road Initiative, expand its international circle of friends, and introduce high-quality talent and develop into a hub of high-end professionals from all around the world, thus fulfilling its role and responsibility and supporting the country's strategy to prosper through education, technology and talent." She emphasized that, "By establishing this special scholarship mechanism, both parties hope to focus on cultivating international talent in innovation and intelligence, providing a strategic talent reserve for Macao to develop into a "world-class exchange platform for innovative talent where diverse cultures thrive in harmony."

President Joseph Lee stated in his speech that: "The establishment of this scholarship embodies the industry's commitment to 'developing Macao through education,' and the covered scope directly corresponds to the core areas of Macao's '1+4' diversification strategy. This scholarship will greatly help to attract students from Portuguese-speaking countries and countries and regions joining the Belt and Road initiative to further their studies in Macao. After completing their studies, they will return to their homeland with the experience learned from Macao, becoming cultural ambassadors who 'tell the stories of China and Macao well' as well as facilitators of friendship."

Both parties stressed that, as instructed by Director Xia Baolong during his recent inspection tour to Macao, all sectors of local society must thoroughly understand the severity and complexity of the volatile international situation. He encouraged all sectors of society to integrate into the nation and embrace the world while remaining rooted in Macao and open up new dimensions of development in the ever-changing environment. They should also accelerate the enhancement of the city's industrial structure with a focus on developing emerging industries such as cross-border finance, traditional Chinese medicine, and MICE, trade and commerce; proactively enhance coordinated innovation among the industry, academic and research sectors; and propel the transformation and application of scientific research outcomes in businesses to develop more new quality productive forces.

According to the MOU, Wynn will finance around 30 scholarships for international postgraduates studying at MUST each academic year, with each qualified student receiving MOP50,000 each year for a period of two academic years. Wynn is establishing these scholarships to support Macao tertiary institutions in nurturing talent in various disciplines, including culture and arts, film and entertainment, modern finance, high technology, and community tourism, and to promote knowledge transfer and intellectual exchange on an international scale, thus supporting the SAR's industry growth and contributing to the city's development policies and Talent Recruitment Programs. The collaboration with MUST, a leading university in Asia, will help further upgrade the talent supply in the cultural and tourism industries in the Greater Bay Area, fortify Macao's global position as a World Center of Tourism and Leisure, and eventually extend the value chain of cultural exchange along the "One Belt, One Road."

Other guests who attended the signing ceremony included: Mr. Carlos Roberto Xavier, Head of the Department of Higher Education of DSEDJ of the Macao SAR Government; Ms. Tam Sio Wa, Head of the Division of Tertiary Educational Cooperation and Exchange of DSEDJ; Professor Pang Chuan, Vice President of MUST; Mr. Feng Junguo, Administrative Officer of School of Graduate Studies of MUST; Dr. Barry Ip, Vice President of Learning and Advancement of Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace; and Ms. Jasmine Cheong, Vice President of Community and Government Relations of Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace.