The Macao SAR Government today (19 December) announced the list of Decorations, Medals, and Certificates of Merit awarded for 2023. Yonghua Song, rector of the University of Macau (UM), will be awarded the Medal of Merit—Education in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the education sector. Congratulations to Rector Song on being awarded this honour.
Song expressed great joy and honour in receiving the Medal of Merit—Education. He also expressed sincere gratitude to the Macao SAR Government for recognising the development of UM and acknowledging his contributions. He added that the progress made by the university over the years is the result of the joint efforts of its faculty, staff, and students. He also extended special thanks to his colleagues for their hard work during the pandemic. Taking this opportunity, he would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all the institutions and individuals who have supported UM. The university would not have been able to reach this far without their support. UM will continue to strive for excellence, enhance its teaching and research quality, promote industry-academia collaboration, and cultivate more outstanding talent, so as to make further contributions to promoting Macao’s economic diversification and invigorating the country through science and education.
The Macao SAR presents awards to individuals and public or private entities, in recognition of their respective personal achievement, contribution to the community, or distinguished service to the Macao SAR. The decorations, medals, and certificates of merit awarded to them include: 1) Decorations of Honour; 2) Medals of Merit; 3) Medals for Distinguished Service; and 4) Honorific Titles. The Nomination Committee is composed of a maximum of 11 members. The chief executive may, based on the recommendations from the Nomination Committee, award decorations, medals, and certificates of merit.
澳門特別行政區政府今（19）日公佈2023年度授勳名單，其中澳門大學校長宋永華獲授予教育功績勳章，以表彰其在教育事業方面的傑出貢獻。祝賀宋校長獲此殊榮。
宋永華表示，非常高興及榮幸獲頒教育功績勳章，衷心感謝澳門特區政府對澳門大學發展的認可和對其個人工作的肯定。澳大這些年的進步是全校教職員及學生共同努力的成果，特別要感謝在疫情期間同事們的辛勤付出。也借此機會，萬分感謝所有支持大學的機構和人士，因為有大家的幫助，大學才能取得現時的成就。澳門大學將繼續追求卓越，提升教學和科研水平，推動產學研合作，培養更多優秀人才，為澳門經濟多元發展和國家科教強國事業做出更多貢獻。
澳門特別行政區設立勳章、獎章和獎狀以表揚在個人成就、社會貢獻或服務澳門特別行政區方面有傑出表現的人士以及公共或私人實體。勳章、獎章和獎狀包括（一）榮譽勳章；（二）功績勳章；（三）傑出服務獎章；（四）獎狀。提名委員會由最多十一名成員組成，行政長官可應提名委員會的建議，授予勳章、獎章和獎狀。
Yonghua Song宋永華