Interview with Former Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau
Rui Paulo da Silva Martins: Witnessing 37 Years of Transformation
澳門大學科技學院前院長訪談
馬許願教授: 見證科技學院三十七載蛻變

As the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at the University of Macau (UM) prepares to restructure into three new faculties—the Faculty of Information Science and Computing, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Science—starting in the academic year 2026/2027, Prof Rui Paulo da Silva Martins, who served as FST Dean from 1994 to 1997 and is currently Vice Rector of the University, reflects on the faculty’s remarkable 37-year evolution.

Recalling the time he first joined the University and the Faculty of Science and Technology in 1992, Prof. Martins noted, “The Faculty of Science and Technology back then was vastly different from what it is today.” One of the most pressing challenges at the time was the severe shortage of locally based academic staff. “There were very few Macao residents with experience in higher education teaching, and those who were here had mostly been educated in the UK or the US. Most faculty members came from Portugal or the Chinese mainland, and many had not yet earned doctoral degrees.”

During his deanship, Prof. Martins established two core missions: building a structured academic career pathway and nurturing local research talent. At that time, faculty appointments were limited to two-year renewable contracts, offering neither promotion opportunities nor long-term professional development plans. To address this, he introduced a clear academic ladder: outstanding bachelor’s graduates could serve as teaching assistants while pursuing master’s degrees; those holding master’s degrees could be appointed lecturers; and individuals with PhDs would be hired as Assistant Professors, with potential pathways to associate and full professorships.

Realizing this vision required the establishment of postgraduate programs. Since the faculty initially offered only undergraduate degrees, Prof. Martins proposed launching a master’s programme in 1993, followed by a doctoral programme between 1994 and 1995. These initiatives received approval from the Macao government and became foundational pillars for cultivating a local academic workforce.

However, the early days of research were fraught with financial constraints. In the early 1990s, the university’s total annual research budget was less than MOP 500,000. Prof. Martins’ team successfully secured the university’s first three research grants—focused respectively on microelectronics, machine translation, and environmental engineering—with each project receiving MOP 40,000. Despite the modest funding, the team produced the University of Macau’s first integrated circuit (UM Chip) and initiated pioneering work in automatic translation and hydraulics.

When discussing the faculty’s educational achievements, Prof. Martins highlighted one outstanding alumnus: Prof. Pui-In Mak, now Director of the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI and Macao’s first locally trained Chair Professor. A native of Macao, Prof. Mak published a paper in an IEEE journal during his undergraduate studies—an exceptionally rare feat. In recognition of his exceptional performance, the faculty granted him direct admission to the PhD programme, bypassing the master’s level. By the time he graduated in 2006, he had authored multiple top-tier conference papers, designed integrated circuits, and secured four U.S. patents. He has since been elected Fellow of the IEEE, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). “His journey,” Prof. Martins remarked, “is the finest testament to the educational philosophy of our faculty.”

Looking ahead, Prof. Martins sees the upcoming tripartite restructuring not as an endpoint, but as a necessary response to the rapid evolution of science and technology. “The original FST encompassed fundamental sciences, traditional engineering, and information technology. Today, emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and microelectronics demand deeper specialization.” He also strongly affirmed the strategic significance of the University’s expansion into Hengqin: “Macao’s physical space is limited, but Hengqin and the Greater Bay Area open vast new horizons for students—in internships, entrepreneurship, and industry–academia collaboration.” He believes this will inspire Macao’s youth to look beyond their home city and embrace greater challenges across the region.

Amid the new three-faculty structure, Prof. Martins emphasized that the pursuit of excellence must remain the unwavering core value. “Whether in teaching or research, we must always benchmark ourselves against the world’s best. This has always been our conviction—and it must never waver.” With a touch of humor, he added, “Back then, the Faculty of Science and Technology even won the university’s five-a-side football championship three years in a row!” The camaraderie of that team, he said, mirrored the collaborative spirit of the academic community he helped build.

From scarce resources to nurturing thousands of students, from scattered research efforts to a constellation of advanced laboratories, the rise of the Faculty of Science and Technology stands as a testament to vision, perseverance, and steadfast belief in Macao’s talent. Though now dividing into three distinct faculties, its legacy endures—its spirit passed on, stepping boldly into a brighter, more brilliant future.