On September 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM, Professor Wanlei Zhou, Vice President of the City University of Macau and Dean of the Faculty of Data Science, led a delegation to the Hainan Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone to attend the "2025 Opening Ceremony" of the Hainan International College of Minzu University of China . The delegation included Professor Wicky So, Associate Vice Rector of the City University of Macau, Associate Professor Wenjian Liu, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Data Science, and Associate Professor Jiawei Zhu, Program Director. Together, they witnessed the further deepening and development of the collaborative educational initiatives between the two institutions.

The opening ceremony was held with great fanfare at the Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone. Professor Wanlei Zhou, as a special guest, delivered a speech on behalf of the City University of Macau, extending a warm welcome to the 113 freshmen enrolled in the joint program in Data Science and Big Data Technology. Drawing from his own experience taking the college entrance examination, he emphasized the importance of maintaining a state of “constant readiness” and holding onto the conviction that “you can do it”.He reflected on how his daily accumulated knowledge enabled him to gain admission to the Computer Science Department of Harbin Institute of Technology, an attitude that has guided his professional career and became key to seizing opportunities. Addressing the characteristics of the Data Science and Big Data Technology program, Professor Zhou particularly stressed the necessity of interdisciplinary learning, encouraging the Class of 2025 to " Data as our vessel, interdisciplinary collaboration as our bridge ". He further illustrated the importance of lifelong learning by sharing his own practice of reading 5 to 10 academic papers weekly.

A delegation from City University of Macau held a “Joint Management Committee” meeting with leaders from Minzu University of China. Professor Wanlei Zhou introduced the university's recent achievements in data science, including laboratory development, corporate collaboration projects, and competition results, emphasizing its commitment to providing students with diverse practical platforms. He stated that the university will continue to strengthen faculty exchanges and curriculum optimization, advance the implementation of joint education programs, and support the creation of internationally competitive educational initiatives.

Professor Shigong Qiang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Minzu University of China, highly affirmed the achievements of the collaboration between the two institutions. He noted that the undergraduate program in Data Science and Big Data Technology has become a model for advancing cooperative education. He emphasized the need for further resource integration, strengthening the development of a full English curriculum system, exploring interdisciplinary directions, and enhancing students’ employability through practical internships and research collaborations.

The 2025 Opening Ceremony of the Hainan International College of Minzu University of China marks the third year of the joint educational initiative. Both institutions will continue to develop an internationally influential model of educational innovation in the field of data science, cultivating high-quality talent with both technical expertise and a global perspective for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port.