The University of Lisbon is witnessing a notable rise in the enrollment of Chinese postgraduate students, a trend attributed to the high quality of Portuguese language training available in China. Luís Manuel dos Anjos Ferreira, the dean of the university in Macau, shared this observation today during the 3rd Forum of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions in China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Ferreira emphasized that the growing number of Chinese students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees at the University of Lisbon signifies a shift in their educational focus. More and more Chinese students are going on to do their masters and doctorates. That’s a good sign, he remarked, highlighting that these students are now advancing their studies in fields such as Literature and Translation rather than merely learning the Portuguese language.
A recent compilation by Macau Polytechnic University academic Manuel Duarte João Pires revealed that, in 2022, 51 higher education institutions in China offered Portuguese language programs. In Macau alone, five universities provide such programs, reinforcing the growing interest in the language among Chinese students.
In addition to postgraduate enrollments, Ferreira noted a significant influx of Chinese students participating in Portuguese language summer courses at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. “We get 200 to 300 students at that time. They start appearing at the end of May, June, July, and August, which shows the demand for the Portuguese language and for learning Portuguese,” he stated.
Ferreira also addressed the impact of new technologies in the field of translation, acknowledging that while advancements are being made, human involvement remains crucial. “To communicate, we need to look each other in the eye, move our hands, and make a series of gestures that we can read in others”, he explained. He highlighted that while automatic and simultaneous translation systems are improving, they still struggle with the nuances of interpersonal relationships, especially in less structured contexts like conversations.
On a collaborative front, the University of Lisbon signed a memorandum of understanding with the City University of Macau to facilitate student exchanges. Ferreira pointed out the university’s connections with other higher education institutions in China, including the University of Macau, Macau Polytechnic University, and Shanghai University, underscoring the growing educational ties between Portugal and China.
