On the Integration of Macao's Higher Education into the National Development Agenda: Connotation, Achievements, and Prospects

The integration of Macao's higher education follows the pathway of "interest-dissociated cooperation→cooperation with aggregated interests→integrated development". From the perspective of policy foundation, the integration has gone through two stages, namely "maintaining the status quo" and "two systems", and is moving towards "emphasizing the principle of 'one-country' direction". The main body of participant has evolved from market-driven to local government-led and then to state-led. The mode of integration has evolved from help-cooperation to a variety of forms of comprehensive integration. In order to promote deep integration between Macao and the Mainland, it is imperative that the policy prioritize "one country" over identity boundaries.The key to fostering integrated development of universities in both regions is to break through traditional ways of thinking and establish a long-term cooperation mechanism. Psychological integration is an inevitable path to advance deeper integration precisely after physical integration.