In order to increase public awareness of what life might be like at the University of Macau (UM), the public university has been holding campus tours called “A Day at UM”, which, according to a UM statement on Friday, have become quite popular because they attract participants from all over the world.
According to the statement, “international students agree that the campus tours have helped them quickly familiarise themselves with the campus environment”. The statement noted that the tour is not limited to international students but also available by appointment for groups, organisations, families, prospective students, and academic staff visiting for exchange programmes.
“A Day at UM” is a free tour organised by the university’s Communications Office (CO), which has led over 2,300 such tours, according to the statement. Groups of 10 or more members can attend per session. Two sessions of the tours, each lasting about an hour and a half, are offered from Monday through Saturday. The tours are available in English, Putonghua, and Cantonese.
The tours are guided by UM’s Public Relations (PR) Student Ambassadors, being “docents* to introduce the campus facilities and a brief history of UM, and share interesting stories and anecdotes about UM, aiming to enhance visitors’ understanding of the university”, according to the statement. The Student Ambassadors lead guests around the UM campus, including the University Gallery and the UM Library, who also have the opportunity to visit the iconic “Wall of Great Wisdom”.
Additionally, the statement highlighted that guests will have the opportunity to participate in interactive games during the tour, in which souvenirs will be given to them as a way to remind them of their experience at UM. Major campus buildings also provide the UM Audio Tour, available in the Putonghua, Cantonese, and English languages. It is globally accessible to virtually explore UM’s campus amenities and surroundings through video tours and the “360° Virtual Tour” webpage: https://www.um.edu.mo/visitors/campus-tour.
*The word “docent” has different meanings depending on the context and region: In the United States, a docent is a volunteer or trained guide who leads tours in museums, art galleries, zoos, or historical sites. They provide educational information and insights to visitors. In Europe, a docent is a title for a senior academic position, often equivalent to an associate professor or lecturer. – DeepSeek
This undated handout photo taken from the website of the University of Macau (UM) yesterday shows international students taking part in a campus tour conducted by a UM Student Ambassador (right).
