CHINA's resumption of sovereignty over Macao in December 1999 is fuelling enthusiasm for China's mainland universities among Macao's young people, who see the takeover as offering more exciting and broader career opportunities.
Mainland universities and colleges have enrolled a record 1,014 Macao students this year. A total of 1,942 Macao middle-school leavers applied this year - two-thirds of all leavers and almost 600 more than last year.
The Macao Chinese Education Association said the students will be attending 33 universities and colleges this September, including Beijing and Qinghua universities.
China's mainland universities began recruiting Macao students in the mid-1980s. The most popular subjects for Macao students are clinical medicine, international trade, education, biochemistry, mechanics and electronics, construction and engineering, transportation, administration, computing, law and languages.