With a view to implementing community and peer education, and as part of their systematic learning programme, the residential colleges are committed to helping students meet the requirements in the five areas of competencies, namely Healthy Living, Interpersonal Relation and Teamwork, Leadership and Service, Cultural Engagement, and Citizenship with Global Perspectives. In late July 2018, the CYTC led four students to visit four primary and secondary schools in Congjiang County of Guizhou province in mainland. The delegation met with local officials and the principals of the four schools, as a way to understand the challenges faced by local schools and how UM’s residential colleges may assist them.

The support for education in Guizhou is a way for the Macao SAR to join the poverty relief programme of the central government. The CYTC plans to organize regular service learning to Congjiang to improve the teaching and learning environment of the local primary and secondary schools. On the other hand, students are encouraged take part in voluntary services to gain experience through interacting with local children, young people and teachers and to learn different cultures and traditions.