To facilitate new mainland students’ understanding and integration into campus life at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), the university held the New Mainland Students 2025/2026 on 16 September 2025.
The event took place in the afternoon at the Don Bosco Auditorium of USJ Ilha Verde Campus. Guests attending the ceremony included Mr. Chu Zhiwen, representative of the Education and Youth Affairs Department of the Liaison Office; Ms. Tam Sio Wa, Director of the Division of Tertiary Educational Cooperation and Exchange at the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEDJ); Prof. Stephen Morgan, Rector of USJ; Prof. Álvaro Barbosa and Dr. Teresa Loong, Vice Rectors of USJ; Prof. Carlos Sena Caires, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH); Prof. Jenny Phillips, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL); Prof. Karen Tagulao, Programme Coordinator of the Institute of Science and Environment (ISE); Ms. Jenny Lam, Head of the Office for Student and Alumni Affairs; as well as other faculty and staff members.
In his opening speech, Prof. Morgan warmly welcomed the new students, emphasizing the critical importance of collaboration by quoting John Donne’s “No man is an island” and “ask not for whom the bell tolls.” He underscored that each person’s success and sorrow are shared, and explicitly expected students to embrace the challenge and opportunity of working daily with peers from diverse cultures and languages. While acknowledging their pursuit of a degree, he stressed that the true value of their USJ education lies in developing the ability to engage meaningfully with others—a skill that will foster lasting friendships and enable them to become outstanding ambassadors for themselves, their families, and their countries.
At the ceremony, Zhang Shengjia, a second-year student majoring in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) at FBL, served as the emcee. Meanwhile, Xie Sisi, a second-year student majoring in the Master of Environmental Sciences and Management (MESM) at ISE, shared her campus life experiences and practical opportunities at the university. She mentioned that USJ adopts an all-English, small-class teaching model that emphasizes the integration of theory and practice. For her programme, for example, the curriculum includes lab sessions, mangrove field trips, and corporate visits, truly bringing the classroom into reality.
Additionally, she highlighted that campus life at USJ features a variety of colorful activities, such as the International Culture Carnival (ICC), Spring Festival celebrations, Mid-autumn lantern riddle events, and exam support stations, all designed to help students expand their social circles and enrich their campus experience. The university also actively organizes off-campus practical and cultural experiences, including attending sports events, participating in Macao higher education seminars, corporate visits, “Ode to the Motherland” themed activities, and academic exchanges in Qingdao, all of which facilitate cross-institutional academic interaction and practical learning. She emphasized that USJ not only provides high-quality learning resources but also offers a unique and exciting graduate journey. She encouraged her juniors to stay curious, take initiative in learning, and dare to try new things, hoping they would gain knowledge, forge friendships, and become their best selves on campus.
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