Macao's return to China will not only create opportunities for economic recovery but give new impetus to education of the region, a local scholar said.

After the handover the exchange between institutes of higher learning of the mainland and Macao will be increasing further, said Professor Li Xiangyu, dean of the Macao Polytechnic Institute.

With the advanced facilities and capable faculties, Macao's colleges can provide Portuguese language training while the mainland can supply more talents to Macao, Li said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Macao and mainland colleges also can exchange visit, share information and do research together, Li said.

Li said his institute plans to offer bachelor and master programs in Chinese for a group of government employees of Macao, with the purpose of raising their Chinese language ability and managerial and professional quality. The programs will be jointly sponsored by Beijing Language and Culture University.

Founded in 1991, Macao Polytechnic Institute is one of the two prestigious higher learning institutions in the region. It is now the biggest Chinese language (Mandarin) training and testing center as well as the biggest Portuguese language training center in Macao.

As the new Macao Special Administrative Region government attaches importance to education, it will spend great time and effort in raising Macao's educational level, Li said.

Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the first Chief Executive-designate of Macao SAR, proposed in his election platform that education is essential to Macao. This demonstrates the importance he attaches to education, Li said.

Li said he believes the Macao SAR government will begin to reform the much debated educational system of Macao after it is in power, creating new opportunities for future development of education.

After the handover, both Portuguese and Chinese will be used as official languages. Li said Macao's government and academic circles will make effort to protect the use of Portuguese, a language bridging China with Europe, Latin America and Portuguese- speaking African countries. (Xinhua)