To promote the application and popularization of Information Technology (IT) and cultivate IT talents and interests with an aim to facilitate IT development in Macao, Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) organized“The 7th Macao-wide IT Competition - ALICE 3D Programming Contest”. This competition was co-organized by the Gaming Standards Association and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), sponsored/supported by Macao's Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation of Macao and Canon Hong Kong Company Limited (Macao Branch).

The competition comprised secondary school and open categories. This year there were 83 teams in all with teams from 22 secondary schools and 12 teams in the Open Category. To enable the contestants to better understand the ALICE 3D programming environment, MPI provided a specialized programming technique training course prior to the competition and invited five external experts to form a panel of authoritative judges, the experts being Professor Lee Ho Man, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Wu Zhimei, Digital Media Laboratory, Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS), Professor Wang Lili, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Professor Wong Kin Yeung, Engineering Sciences, Open University of Hong Kong, and Dr. Wang Yapeng, MPI-QMUL Information Systems Research Centre.

The Awards Ceremony was held in MPI on 31st July where the guests attending were Ms. Tam Van Iu, Acting Director, Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation, Mr. Wong Kin Mou, Head of Research and Educational Resources Department, Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Mr. Ricky Hoi, Head of Organisational Planning and Development Department, Macao Government Tourist Office, Mr. Victor Kwok, Chief Representative of Canon Hong Kong Company Limited (Macao Branch), Professor Xiong Zhang, Beihang University and Dr. Im Sio Kei (Marcus), Director of the School of Public of Administration, MPI.

Dr. Im noted that the competition has been organized for 7 years now and has been supported and recognized by Macao's secondary schools, its public and industries. The competition has indeed become a brand event for Macao's tertiary education. This year the competition was keen and attracted many contestants including Pui Ching Middle School, Yuet Wah College, Instituto Salesiano, Sacred Heart Canossian College, Kap Yip Middle School, The Workers' Children High School, Macao, Pooi To Middle School, Escola Católica Estrela do Mar , Escola Fong Chong da Taipa and Colégio Diocesano de Sao José, a few examples from amongst the total of 22 schools participating.

Since the sixteenth century Macao has been a centre for Chinese and Western cultural exchange, the Chinese and Western cultures co-existing in harmony to form the territory’s own unique cultural blend. This year the theme of the competition was“Fascinating Macao - the Blending of Chinese and Western Cultures”. The competition required not only utilizing the “ALICE” 3D programme to write a 3D story or computer game, thus enabling contestants to master 3D programming techniques, but also stimulated creativity through the process of structuring the project and developing teamwork skills. It also enabled our contestants to strengthen their understanding of the blending of Chinese and Western cultures in Macao.

The projects receiving awards displayed not just the excellent programming skills and creativity of the students, but also the unique attractiveness of Macao, demonstrating Macao's unique cuisine, landscape and customs, the participants also expressing their deep attachment to Macao. The competition plays an active role in driving the application of IT and promoting Macao’s culture, and in these respects it most certainly achieved its desired effect. MPI will continue to organize a greater variety of IT activities for students and industries interested in IT, providing more opportunities for participants to demonstrate their talents and exchange views and ideas whilst nurturing future IT professionals.

In the Open Category, the entry“Searching Macao Story”by Lou Wai Fo and Hoi Nei Tat won first prize and “Love Macao” by Lei Sai Kit, Lam Choi Ut and Song Yanwen won second prize. In the Secondary Schools Category,“My Macao” by students Sou Hio Ieng, Chio Weng Sut and Cheng Wan Yi from Kap Yip Middle School won first prize, and “There is a Place” by students Leong Weng Sam, Lam Ka I and Liang Sisi of The Workers' Children High School, Macao won second prize.“Chinese and Western Fantasia” by students Cheang Chon Meng, Hoi Hou In and Lao Ka Wai from Yuet Wah College won the most creative idea prize, whilst“Macao, Ours”by Pui Ching Middle School,“City of East Meets West”by Kap Yip Middle School and“ Story of Portuguese Chicken” by Colégio Diocesano de Sao José 2nd and 3rd branches each won merit awards. The first prize award winners from the two categories displayed their masterpieces during the award ceremony, and were rewarded with very positive recognition and applause from the audience.

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