USJ and Macau Deaf Association signed a partnership to advocate universal sign language education
USJ and Macau Deaf Association signed a partnership to advocate universal sign language education
12
Apr
12/04/2022
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) and the Macau Deaf Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, April 12th, 2022, to advocate universal sign language education and promote a disability-friendly society in Macao.
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) and the Macau Deaf Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, April 12th, 2022, to advocate universal sign language education and promote a disability-friendly society in Macao. The MoU was signed by the Rector of USJ, Prof. Stephen Morgan, and the Director of the Macau Deaf Association, Ms. Lau Sut Man.
Rector Morgan said that USJ hopes to promote the universalisation of sign language, stating that the inclusion of sign language courses in the University’s Social Work degree programmes does not only strengthens the long-term partnership between USJ and the Macau Deaf Association but also further links the University and the local community, serving to those in need.
President Wong Kam Sun said that as a deaf person, he was inspired by the project supported and promoted by USJ. He expressed her gratitude to the Social Work team of the USJ Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, who facilitated this project.
Prof. Jacky Ho, Head of the Department of Social Work of USJ in charge of this collaborative project, also pointed out that establishing strategic partnerships with social local service agencies can help build equal rights for persons with disabilities, serve the needs of the community and promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations, including SDG 3 – “Good Health and Society Welfare” and SDG 10 – “Reducing inequalities”. Prof. Ho also states incorporating sign language in future social work degree training will become a long-term trend, and society should pay more attention to the needs of deaf people.
The MoU was signed with the presence of the members of the Association, including Director Nerissa Lau, Supervisor Wong Pou San, Supervisor Un Ho Man, Supervisor (Speech Therapist) Leong Chao Man, Supervisor (Social Work), Cheng Wai Sum, and Sign Language Interpreter Lam Kwok Keung. Attendees from USJ include Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education (FSSE) Prof. Elisa Monteiro, Director of the Macau Observatory for Social Developments and Head of the Department of Social Work Prof. Jacky Ho, Research Coordinator for FSSE Prof. Helen Liu, Prof. Andrew Ng, and Prof. Leona Ng.
