The Portuguese Institute of the Orient (IPOR) in Macao has opened the IPOR International Student Support Desk to help satisfy growing demand by Chinese for places in universities in Portugal, Lusa reports.

The Portuguese news agency quotes IPOR Director João Laurentino Neves as saying: “We thought it would make sense to create a structure that connects the institutions and students of Macao and the People’s Republic of China.”

The report says the purpose of the desk is to help students by giving information about courses and enrolment in Portuguese universities, about the academic strengths of the universities there, and about living in the places where the universities are.

Last year the Portuguese Consulate-General in Macao issued 400 visas for Chinese to study in Portugal, and so far this year it has issued over 200, Lusa quotes Mr. Laurentino Neves as saying.