event

Symposium on Social Interventions | Towards Sustainability: Education as a tool to Reduce Inequalities in Macao Education Institutions (POSTPONED)

28

Jun

The Symposium on Social Interventions – ” Towards Sustainability: Education as a tool to Reduce Inequalities” will take place on Tuesday, 28 June.

In cooperation with Macao’s anti-pandemic measures and due to the current uncertain pandemic situation, this event will be postponed until further notice. (Updated: 20 June 2022)

This symposium contributes to the discussion of education as a tool to promote social equality and a more sustainable world in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main aim of the symposium is to motivate an interdisciplinary dialogue about how to fight different types of social inequalities, locally and globally, in order to inform research, decision making, and policy building. The four presentations will be followed by a discussion session on how the interventions might be improved, replicated, and extended in order to contribute to a more fair and inclusive society. 

This symposium brings together four presentations on different areas of intervention, namely: 

1. pedagogy and improvements;
2. professional reintegration; 
3. a comparison of experiences of parents in Beijing and in New York City in early intervention and special education;
4. an action research study about a sustainability education program in Macao.

This Symposium is co-organised by the University of Saint Joseph’s (USJ) Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, the Macao Observatory for Social Development, and the USJ Green-committee.

Details:

Date: Tuesday, 28 June, 2022 
Time: 14:30 – 17:00 (See table and poster below for schedule)
Venue: Don Bosco Auditorium, USJ Ilha Verde Campus
Address: Estrada Marginal da Ilha Verde, 14 – 17,Macau.

REGISTER HERE* >

*Registration is required as seats are limited.
**The language of the symposium is English. Admission is free.

Online access:

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89390390262?pwd=OXZQR2NQL2s3R3dLOXdMS0ZObjdZdz09
Meeting ID: 893 9039 0262
Passcode: 769444

Programme:

About the Presentations and Speakers:

Presentation 1: “A Pathway to Rehabilitation: Pedagogy and improvements in a Prison outreach program in Macao” 

This presentation describes a Higher Education Prison Outreach program in Macao in the area of Social Work and explores areas for pedagogical improvement and benefits. Surveys of instructors and students and semi-structured interviews with former students were collected. Proposed improvements include making more materials available, arranging self-study time, and ensuring continuous support of instructors. Current and former students expressed a sense of value and self-esteem and interest in exploring psychological aspects of social work. Implications include the need for strengthening collaboration between NGOs and local government, expanding the program to different fields, and improving class size.

Professor Helen Liu is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, University of Saint Joseph, Macao SAR China. She is a researcher-practitioner in social work and an associate affiliate of China Center for Social Policy Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City. Her research interests focus on child and family well-being, with fostering family resilience and developmental outcomes in children and adolescents; the rehabilitation and social reintegration of prisoners. Professor Helen’s work has been supported by the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Social Welfare Bureau, and Macao Foundation.

Presentation 2: “Professional Recognition of Ex-Offenders in Macao: A Case Study in the Social Welfare Services” 

This presentation explores the journey of professional (re)integration of ex-offenders in Macao after attending a Higher Education Prison Outreach Program in the area of Social Work. The Macao SAR government attaches great importance to professional integration as a way to reduce the chance of recidivism. Professional integration requires coordination of social policies, family support, and in-prison education and training. Yet, in Macao existing professional certification legislation does not cover ex-offenders. Implications are discussed for legislation on professional certification of ex-offenders as a way to enhance their motivation to strive for a future career and help them reintegrate fully into society.

Ip Ka I (Vinci), a MSW student at USJ, is a social worker, working in Macao Youth Residential Home at Astor Shore, Sheng Kung Hui Macau. She has been working in the field over 12 years. In the recent years, she has been responsible for supervising the frontline social workers and social work interns, and planning the training of the institution staff so as to improve the service and quality in the residential homes.

Presentation 3: ““Access to Early Intervention and Special Education: Parents’ Experiences in Beijing and New York City” 

Early intervention and special education are crucial for the rehabilitation and development of children with special needs. The fundamental task for policymakers and service providers is to ensure service accessibility. This study explores what influences access to early intervention and special education from parents’ perspectives. Data were collected through one-on-one in-depth interviews conducted in Beijing and New York City. Thematic analysis identified three areas in that parents often encountered difficulties in both cities: service resource adequacy, service navigation, and service transition. By comparison and contrast, the discussion centered around policy supports in need and provided pertinent recommendations.

Professor Xiaoran Wang is a lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Beijing University of Technology. She earned her PhD in social work at Fordham University, USA. Her research interests include early intervention and early education, parenting support, and social work education. Her recent studies have been published in the International Social Work and China Journal of Social Work.

“Enhancing Sustainability Development in Macao: An Action Research Study”

This presentation explores the application of an educational program to middle-school students in Macao to increase their understanding of sustainability. As Macao is a highly urbanized city, children have unequal access to natural settings which may negatively affect their perceptions of sustainability. Through an Action-Research approach, this study analyses the impact of the Burns Model of Sustainability Pedagogy as a framework for sustainability education. Findings underpin the need for carefully designed programs to empower individuals to become powerful change agents of sustainable development, and suggestions and tools are proposed to promote sustainability education in Macao.

Cíntia Pacheco Leite Martins, Originally from Brazil, was raised in Macau. Graduated in Design, with a Postgraduate and Master’s in Education. Cintia works full-time as a fitness and wellness coach by conducting both individual sessions and corporate workshops. Her passion for fitness and wellness led her to found a social enterprise and an NGO to empower people for a healthy and active lifestyle. Also, her desire to find natural ways to heal the body, led her to co-found Mighty Greens- A company that educates the community about food systems, personal behaviours, and life skills to become more sustainable.