Since Macao's return to China 25 years ago, the region has witnessed flourishing educational cooperation with the mainland, which has facilitated Macao's integration into national development.
A prime example of this strengthened cooperation is the Hengqin School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School, located in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province. This is the first mainland school tailored for children of Macao residents.
Since its opening in September this year, the school has enrolled about 256 students in kindergarten and primary grades, all from Macao families. These students enjoy the same education policies as their peers in Macao.
"We have two children studying here. We work mostly in Hengqin. The kids have adapted well. They love the school's environment, especially the meals at the cafeteria," said a Macao parent.
"My husband and I work in Hengqin. If our child goes through the customs every day to attend school in Macao, it will take too long. The school environment is really good, with many facilities here even surpassing what Macao schools offer. We also resonate strongly with the school's educational philosophy," said another parent.
The Hengqin School offers core subjects like mathematics, Chinese, and English alongside specialized courses in piano, dance, and visual arts. A hallmark of the school is its emphasis on internationalized education.
"Our teaching isn't limited to subject knowledge. We focus on cultivating global perspectives, fostering independent thinking, and encouraging active engagement among students," said teacher Chen Qiaotong.
As part of the "Macao New Neighborhood" initiative, the Hengqin School represents a key milestone in Guangdong-Macao cooperation. It is designed as a 15-year continuous education system, spanning kindergarten to high school, with a capacity for 66 classes and 2,310 students. "The 15-year continuous education system is a distinctive feature of Macao. We aim to nurture students with a profound love for Macao and China as well as a global outlook," said Chen Hong, the executive principal of the Hengqin School.
The cooperation between Macao and the mainland extends into higher education as well. Macao universities have established research and development hubs in Hengqin, integrating high-quality research projects into the mainland's innovation ecosystem.
Zhang Zhe, a doctoral student at the University of Macao, is part of a traditional Chinese medicine research project that achieved commercialization on the mainland.
"We've long sought large-scale production facilities, but it is challenging to find them in Macao. Hengqin provides not just space but also subsidies and dedicated policies for biopharmaceutical development. This has significantly reduced the costs of preclinical trials and mass production," said Zhang.
Currently, Macao and the mainland have established mechanisms for multi-tiered, multifaceted educational exchange and cooperation. These include mutual recognition of junior college and bachelor's degree or above.
The number of Macao students pursuing higher education in mainland universities continues to grow.
"In Hengqin, the number of Macao students has exceeded 500 -- quadrupling the level since the establishment of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone. There are now 23 sister school partnerships between Hengqin and Macao," said Xu Fengmei, deputy director of the livelihood affairs bureau in the cooperation zone.
Macao sees flourishing educational cooperation with mainland over past decades
