The establishment of the Sino-West Creation Institute, which has been approved by the Macao Special  Administrative Region (SAR) government, will bring the number of  institutions of higher learning in Macao to 12.

   The non-governmental institute will open courses in the fields  of humane studies, financial and business administration and  social sciences and award bachelor's degree to the eligible  graduates.

   The Macao Tourism and Amusement Company (STDM), which runs  franchise casino business in Macao, sponsors the institute with  the aim for promoting the academic exchanges between China's  inland and Western countries, with Macao as a bridge.

   In the meantime, the institute is projected to train and bring  up talents in the field of tourism and gambling business for Macao, said STDM sources.