AGP Executive Report

Education & Youth Wellbeing: Macau’s Education and Youth Development Bureau is working with the Health Bureau on a student psychological monitoring programme, with details to come later, as regional concern grows after reports of student self-harm and distress cases in Hong Kong. School Policy: A smartphone-free school debate continues locally, with government saying it’s satisfied after the first year of the smartphone ban—framing it as a focus on attention and healthier routines. Hengqin Integration & Learning: Hengqin’s “next lesson” is getting more concrete: the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town is now taking in Macau postgraduate students, while a Hengqin school affiliated with Hou Kong Middle School prepares for hundreds of young pupils—showing education moving across the border. Culture Infrastructure: Macau targets a 2029 opening for the first phase of the Macao National Museum of Culture on the waterfront east of Macau Tower, with 10 architectural teams submitting concepts this year. Science & Society: A new review argues AI and the social sciences are co-evolving—pushing researchers to treat accountability, values, and legitimacy as core design questions, not just technical ones. International Campus Life: UM’s International Night drew about 300 students from 50+ countries for cultural exchange, highlighting Macau’s growing international student community. Arts & Lifestyle: Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace will host the “Wynn Signature – 2026 Hypercar Exhibition” from Sept 23 to Nov 22, bringing 20+ legendary hypercars to the city.

Education & Youth: OECD’s PISA 2025 results show reading, science and math sliding to record lows across many wealthy countries, while parts of Asia—including Macao—stay near the top, as AI reshapes learning and families’ support for schoolwork appears to weaken. Student Wellbeing: Macau’s Education and Youth Development Bureau says it’s working with the Health Bureau on a psychological monitoring programme for students, with details to come. Macao Culture & Infrastructure: The Cultural Affairs Bureau is moving ahead with the Macao National Museum of Culture, aiming to pick an architectural concept this year and open the first phase by end-2029. Hengqin Integration: As the Macao–Hengqin Cooperation Zone marks five years, Macau’s education footprint is expanding across the border, with postgraduate programmes and a growing Hengqin school for Macau children. International Campus Life: UM’s International Night 2026 brought about 300 students from 50+ countries together for cultural exchange. Arts & Lifestyle: Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace will host the Wynn Signature 2026 Hypercar Exhibition (Sept 23–Nov 22), spotlighting 20+ legendary models. Civic Rights (Region): Hong Kong court sentences Tiananmen vigil activists to 5–7 years, drawing international condemnation.

Education & Youth Wellbeing: Macau’s Education and Youth Development Bureau says it’s working with the Health Bureau on a student psychological monitoring programme, with details to come later, as regional concern grows after reports of student self-harm and distress cases. Culture & Heritage: Macau targets a 2029 opening for the first phase of the Macao National Museum of Culture on the waterfront east of Macau Tower, with 10 architectural teams invited to submit concept designs this year. Campus Life & International Exchange: University of Macau held International Night 2026 with about 300 students from 50+ countries and regions, highlighting the university’s expanding international postgraduate enrolment. Lifestyle & Events: Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace will host the fourth “Wynn Signature – 2026 Hypercar Exhibition” from Sept. 23 to Nov. 22, featuring 20+ hypercars tied to the Year of the Fire Horse. Regional Education Policy: A global PISA update finds families’ interest in children’s studies is slipping in many high-income countries, with Macau schools still standing out in performance.

Macau Cultural Infrastructure: The Cultural Affairs Bureau says it will pick an architectural concept this year for the Macao National Museum of Culture, aiming to finish Phase 1 and open it by end-2029 on the waterfront east of Macau Tower. The nearly 100,000 sq m project will run in two phases, with Phase 2 planned not to disrupt Phase 1 operations. Campus & Community Exchange: University of Macau held International Night 2026 with about 300 students from 50+ countries and regions, highlighting growing international postgraduate enrolment and the campus as a cross-cultural dialogue hub. Education & Wellbeing: Macau’s Education and Youth Development Bureau is working with health officials on a student psychological monitoring programme, with further details to come, as mental health concerns intensify across the region. Arts & Heritage: A seminar marking the 130th anniversary of General Ye Ting’s birth brought scholars from the mainland and Macau to discuss his revolutionary career and Macau connections, including the “Iron Army spirit” and preservation of heritage. Lifestyle Spotlight: Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace will host the Wynn Signature 2026 Hypercar Exhibition (Sept 23–Nov 22), featuring 20+ legendary models tied to the Year of the Fire Horse.

Macau Culture Infrastructure: The Cultural Affairs Bureau says the first phase of the Macao National Museum of Culture (waterfront east of Macau Tower) is aiming for public opening by end-2029, with 10 local and foreign architectural teams submitting concepts this year. Education & Wellbeing: The Education and Youth Development Bureau confirms it’s working with the Health Bureau on a student psychological monitoring programme, with details to follow, as regional concern over youth mental health intensifies. Science & Tech Ecosystem: Macau’s science and technology funding applications rose nearly 30% year-on-year, with corporate submissions more than doubling and more projects matched to industry partners—plus plans to deepen Hengqin integration. Lifestyle & Entertainment: Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace will host the fourth “Wynn Signature – 2026 Hypercar Exhibition” from Sept. 23 to Nov. 22, featuring 20+ legendary hypercars. Education Abroad: Macau Anglican College reports 70.7% of its Class of 2026 secured overseas university placements, led by Hong Kong and Australia. Regional Context: Hong Kong’s Tiananmen vigil organisers received prison sentences of 5 to 7 years under the national security law, underscoring the wider cultural and civic climate.

Museum Planning: Macao is inviting 10 architectural teams to design the first phase of the Macao National Museum of Culture, aiming to open it in 2029 on the waterfront east of Macau Tower. Education & Values: Teachers’ Day in Macau saw Secretary O Lam urge educators to nurture “virtuous and capable” talent, while Macau Anglican College reported 70.7% of its 2026 graduates securing overseas university placements. Revolutionary Heritage: A seminar marked the 130th anniversary of Gen. Ye Ting’s birth, spotlighting his revolutionary career and Macau connections. Culture on Stage: CAVALLUNA’s Asian debut opened at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Arena, with the Culture Secretary praising its mix of horsemanship and storytelling. Sports & Community: WTT Champions Macao 2026 continued at the East Asian Games Dome, with matches pushing into the round of 16. Public Health: Macau launched a yearlong Healthy Lifestyle Competition via Macao One Account, rewarding exercise, healthy eating, screening and vaccinations. Tourism & Food: The 26th Macau Food Festival is set for Nov 20–Dec 6 with about 150 vendors, plus plans for shuttle support from Hengqin. Safety & Streets: Zebra crossing violations nearly doubled to 870 cases this year, as police roll out smarter traffic measures.

Education & Family Life: New PISA 2025 results show families’ interest in kids’ studies is slipping across many high-income countries, with parents talking less about schoolwork and taking less personal interest—while students in Asia (including Macao) still lead in key subjects. Macao Education Spotlight: Macao ranks among the world’s strongest performers in science and math, and tops a new computational problem-solving component, with a relatively small gap between high- and low performers. Preventive Health in Daily Life: Macau launches a yearlong Healthy Lifestyle Competition via Macao One Account, rewarding exercise, healthier eating, screenings and vaccinations with points and gifts—aimed at making residents active in prevention. Road Safety & Public Space: Macau reports zebra crossing violations nearly doubling to 870 cases this year, as police plan 3D scanners and even consider removing a busy crossing to reduce conflicts. Youth, Space & Inspiration: “Tiangong Class” brings Shenzhou-23 astronauts into live lessons for Hong Kong and Macao students, using real-time experiments to spark interest in aerospace. Food Culture Calendar: The 26th Macau Food Festival returns Nov. 20–Dec. 6 with about 150 vendors, spotlighting local and cross-cultural culinary styles. Tourism Lifestyle Push: Wynn and Sands Lifestyle promote Macau across Southeast Asia, backing the city’s “Tourism +” push beyond traditional markets. Community & Wellbeing Talk: A local women’s association vice-president urges a whole-society mental health support network after a school assault case raised concerns about emotional wellbeing and safety.

Education & Youth Wellbeing: Macau’s Education and Youth Development Bureau says the city topped the world in PISA 2025’s Learning in the Digital World (LDW) with 572 points, while also posting strong results in science, maths and reading—amid a wider global slide in literacy and numeracy. School Safety & Mental Health: Local voices are urging a stronger mental-health and emotional-support network after a September 1 campus assault in which a student used drain cleaner to injure a teacher, with calls for safer, more inclusive school environments. Healthy Lifestyle Push: The government has launched a citywide wellness competition via the Macao One Account app, letting residents earn points for daily healthy habits and redeem gifts. Space Education for Hong Kong & Macao: “Tiangong Class” brought Shenzhou-23 astronauts into classrooms with live experiments and a fun water-ball ping-pong demo, turning space science into hands-on learning. Food & Culture Calendar: The 26th Macau Food Festival will run from Nov 20 to Dec 6 near Sai Van Lake Square, featuring about 150 local eateries. Higher Education & Tourism: MGM donated MOP 1 million to the Macao University of Tourism Development Foundation to support teaching, research and international cooperation. Cross-border Talent & Campus Expansion: Hengqin rolled out Macau-Hengqin “talent cards,” and the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town’s first phase opened with English-medium plans and dual-degree ambitions.

Education & Youth: Macau students topped the world in PISA 2025’s Learning in the Digital World, scoring 572 and ranking No.1 globally, while also placing among the top performers in science, maths, reading, and computational problem solving—an achievement the Education and Youth Development Bureau framed as stable excellence amid global declines. Cross-border Higher Education: The Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town’s first phase opened with an English-medium, dual-degree push and cross-campus course sharing, with the three public universities (UM, MPU, UTM) welcoming students and planning “micro-programs” for credit. Campus Safety & Wellbeing: After a September 1 campus violence incident involving a teacher attack with drain cleaner, a women’s affairs leader stressed prevention should focus on mental health support and more inclusive teacher–student relationships, noting that regulating hazardous household sales is hard. Talent & Community Life: Hengqin launched Macau-Hengqin “talent cards” to streamline services for people living and working across the border, while Rotary Club of Macau held a joint installation ceremony highlighting youth and community impact. Lifestyle & Culture: Macau’s cultural footprint also surfaced abroad, with a Macau Kitchen in Scotland winning a national Spice Award for its Chinese-Portuguese fusion dining experience.

Macau Education Spotlight: Macau topped the world in OECD PISA 2025’s Learning in the Digital World, scoring 572 and leading globally, while also posting standout results across science, maths, reading, and computational problem-solving—an achievement the city’s education bureau framed as stable, equity-minded excellence. School Safety & Mental Health: After a September 1 campus violence incident involving a teacher attack with drain cleaner, a women’s affairs leader stressed that prevention hinges less on policing products and more on mental health support and a more inclusive teacher–student culture. Hengqin Talent & University Push: Hengqin rolled out a Macau-Hengqin “talent card” to streamline cross-border services, while Macau’s three public universities held a joint opening ceremony for the new academic year at the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town. Local Culture Calendar: The Na Tcha folk belief culture festival returns next Tuesday, with exhibitions, seminars, parades and blessing ceremonies to spotlight Macao’s intangible heritage. Cross-border Lifestyle: Macau’s dining scene keeps leveling up, with more four-hands collaborations bringing global fine-dining experiences to the city.

Greater Bay Area grassroots sport: The 20th Foshan Xijia Football League wrapped up with a packed final in Sanshui, drawing 20,000 fans and 1,056 players from 48 teams across Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao—proof that community football is still a cultural glue. Aerospace education for Hong Kong and Macau: Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying will deliver a live “Tiangong Class” lecture from space, with a broadcast for students and a Macau delegation attending in person—an outreach built around hands-on science and Q&A. Education spotlight beyond Macau: New PISA 2025 results show reading and maths declines across many OECD systems, while Macau is highlighted among top performers for computational problem-solving. Macau’s culture calendar: Na Tcha folk beliefs return with a 2026 World Na Tcha Folk Belief Culture Festival (Sept 15–18), featuring exhibitions, seminars, parades and blessing ceremonies. Local lifestyle and business: Macau’s Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone reports a 75% rise in Macau-based companies in Hengqin, while a lawmaker urges stronger safeguards against evolving investment scams.

Education & Culture Exchange: UTM and Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique) launched a joint talent development programme at UTM’s Hengqin campus, bringing faculty into master’s study and admitting a Mozambican student for a bachelor’s degree. Economic Diversification: Chief Executive Dora Ng reiterated a 60% non-gaming GDP target by 2030 as the government briefs association reps on the 3rd Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). Intangible Heritage Spotlight: Macau Temple Civilisation announced the 2026 Na Tcha Folk Belief Culture Festival (Sept 15–18), with exhibitions, seminars, parades and blessing ceremonies across the city. Youth & Global Learning: Pui Va Middle School students returned from a Denmark summer programme focused on English, sustainable development and mindfulness, with outdoor and intercultural learning. Community Wellbeing: World Suicide Prevention Day coverage features local young residents discussing stigma, barriers to getting help, and the role of friends, families and schools. Arts Calendar: The 38th Macao International Music Festival (Oct 2–Nov 29) is set to run with “Silk Resonances” and citywide “Floating Notes” activities. Public Safety: Judiciary Police arrested a mainland man over a 289,000-pataca cigar shop burglary, while another case saw a Pakistani HK man charged after cocaine smuggling into Macau.

Branded Residences & Luxury Living: Fashion houses are doubling down on “ultimate luxury” by partnering with developers to create branded residences, with Etro and Karl Lagerfeld among the names expanding into home concepts. Macau–ASEAN Connectivity: Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai wrapped an eight-day Southeast Asia push, citing strong demand to restore direct flights between Macau and Jakarta and reporting broader cooperation gains across trade, tourism, education and culture. Education & Talent Pipeline: Macau plans to attract top Southeast Asian students with scholarships and academic recognition, with Malaysia highlighted as a key source market. Aerospace for Students: The government launched an aerospace-themed website tied to Shenzhou-23, plus a “Tiangong Class” live session planned for Hong Kong and Macao students. Culture on Stage: The 38th Macao International Music Festival returns with “Silk Resonances,” including citywide “Floating Notes Across the City” activities and major concert programmes. Community Wellbeing: World Suicide Prevention Day coverage spotlights local efforts to reduce stigma and improve access to support. Public Safety: Zhuhai Customs seized 1,234 cigars at Gongbei Port, while Judiciary Police arrested a man in Macau over suspected cocaine smuggling.

Aerospace for young people: Macau’s government launched an aerospace-themed website, “Fulfilling the Space Dream Together,” with updates on Shenzhou-23, local and Hong Kong activities, and interactive “Macau Letters” where residents can send greetings to astronauts—aimed at boosting science education and student interest. Regional ties through culture and business: Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai wrapped up an eight-day Southeast Asia push (Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia), saying it strengthened Macao-ASEAN cooperation across trade, tourism, education and culture, with 37 events and 189 cooperation agreements signed. Healthcare cooperation: Macao Union Medical Center deepened links with hospitals and research bodies in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, focusing on critical and complex disease treatment and expanding “Healthcare + Tourism” possibilities. Music festival build-up: The 38th Macao International Music Festival (Oct 2–Nov 29) returns under “Silk Resonances,” mixing world stars and emerging talent plus 12 “Floating Notes Across the City” outreach events. Public health & stigma talk: Residents shared views on mental health and suicide prevention ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, highlighting barriers like judgment, privacy and cost, and the need for listening and support. Customs crackdown: Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs seized 1,234 cigars from a Macau driver at Gongbei Port, reminding travellers that tobacco is restricted for entry into the mainland.

Macao-ASEAN Business Push: Macao-Hengqin’s eight-day mission to Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia wrapped up with 370+ business matching sessions and 189 signed agreements, aiming to strengthen trade, tourism and Belt and Road links. CE Diplomacy in Malaysia: Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai returned after a four-day Kuala Lumpur visit, highlighting deeper cooperation in finance, science and tech, education, and conventions—plus people-to-people ties via Macau and Hengqin. Healthcare + Tourism Link: Macao Union Medical Center (Peking Union Medical College Hospital) deepened Southeast Asia partnerships in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, focusing on critical care, clinical research and “healthcare + tourism” development. Aerospace Education for Youth: Hong Kong and Macao students are set to join the “Tiangong Class” live session, with an expert lecture, in-orbit demonstration and Q&A led by the Shenzhou-23 crew. Music Festival Buzz: The 38th Macao International Music Festival (Oct 2–Nov 29) announced its “Silk Resonances” programme and citywide “Floating Notes Across the City” activities, bringing performances into neighbourhoods. Study in Macao Drive: A “Study in Macao” Education Fair in Kuala Lumpur drew 1,000+ visitors and kicked off a Malaysia campaign to attract global talent. Travel Rule Watch: Thailand’s visa-free scheme changes on Sept 15, cutting visa-free nationalities and shifting stay categories—Macao travellers should double-check passport-specific rules.

Macao–Malaysia Cultural & Business Push: Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai wrapped up a four-day Malaysia visit, touting wider cooperation with Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia plus ASEAN—spanning trade, tourism, education and culture. Study in Macao: A Kuala Lumpur education fair kicked off a new “Study in Macao” brand push to attract global talent, with major local and Malaysian education groups on board. Macao Music Festival: The 38th Macao International Music Festival (Oct 2–Nov 29) returns under “Silk Resonances,” with 12 “Floating Notes Across the City” neighbourhood activities and ticket sales starting Sept 13. Aerospace for Students: “Tiangong Class” is set for Hong Kong and Macau youth, pairing live space demonstrations with a Q&A led by the Shenzhou-23 crew. Healthcare Cooperation: Macao Union Medical Center deepened Southeast Asia ties via hospital and research exchanges, aiming to grow “Healthcare + Tourism.” Culture & Creativity in the Region: Hong Kong Week 2026@Chengdu opened with kung fu artistry, while CCIDA-backed Hong Kong cultural programmes ran in Chengdu through Sept 13. Lifestyle Spotlight: A “grandma-maxxing” travel trend story highlights slower, analogue, family-led journeys—an easy fit for Macao’s lifestyle readers.