Macau | EXCLUSIVE: Investigation into resignation of former UM Rector concluded

Macau (MNA) – The report requested by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam Chong Veng, to evaluate if any irregularity followed the resignation of the former Rector of the University of Macau (UM), Wei Zhao, has been concluded.

The information has been provided to Macau News Agency (MNA) by the Tertiary Education Services Office (GAES), the entity requested by the Secretary on November 27, 2017, to conduct the report in collaboration with UM.

‘Our office has finished the report. Meanwhile, we have handed over to the related office which has authority to follow,’ said the GAES in its written reply to MNA.

The Office declined to name what it called the ‘related office’ and to disclose when it submitted the investigation results, despite repeated requests for this information.

Zhao reportedly handed in his resignation to the local academic institution in early November 2017, having previously announced that he intended to take on the role of Investigation Director at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to information available at the UAE-based university’s website, Mr. Zhao assumed the position of Chief Research Officer on January 9, 2018.

The report requested by Mr. Tam ensued from a complaint lodged with UM, which argued that the Rector should have fulfilled a six-month buffer period before accepting another academic position, with the Secretary then stating that the former Rector’s request was approved by a high-level superior.

On the occasion, UM claimed that its internal regulations did not enforce a six-month exclusion period and that Mr. Zhao had not, therefore, committed any infraction.

The Office for the Secretary confirmed to MNA that it has received the report produced by GAES and that ‘it has been sent to the relevant legal department for further review and study.’

It added that the above was all the information it could ‘share’ with us at this time, and declined to provide details about when the review and study would be concluded or when the report results would be released.

Zhao, who earned his PhD and MS degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Shaanxi Normal University, served as the eight UM Rector from 2008 to 2017.