Visit of Malaysian Chinese Independent High School Delegation to USJ Macao
Visit of Malaysian Chinese Independent High School Delegation to USJ Macao
04
Oct
04/10/2024
On 27 September, 2024, a delegation comprising principals and administrators from Malaysian Chinese Independent High Schools, under the auspices of the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), accompanied by DSEDJ, conducted an official visit to the University of Saint Joseph.
On 27 September, 2024, a delegation comprising principals and administrators from Malaysian Chinese Independent High Schools, under the auspices of the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), accompanied by DSEDJ, conducted an official visit to the University of Saint Joseph (USJ Macao). The delegation was received by Dr. Teresa Loong, Vice-Rector for Student Life at USJ Macao.
Dr. Loong led a distinguished group of USJ faculty and administrative members warmly welcomed the Malaysian delegation. The delegation consisted of Mr. Leong Seng Yee, the Chief Executive Officer and another representative from Dong Zong with 13 high school principals and their representatives, with the primary objective of deepening their understanding of the educational principles and operational frameworks of Malaysian Chinese Independent High Schools in relation to USJ’s academic infrastructure and programmatic offerings. This visit follows two (2) previous engagements in November 2018 and December 2023, which involved guidance counsellors from 15 Malaysian Chinese independent high schools.
The visit commenced with a performance by members of the USJ Music Club, Alidoro Cabongo da Silva Chenda and Mikaela Robino Aquino, which set the tone for the proceedings. Following this, the Vice-Rector of USJ delivered her welcoming remark in this fiftieth anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations and would like to broaden the gates for more students coming from Malaysia. Mr. Leong, the CEO of Dong Zong proposed to explore various opportunities for collaborations that will benefit both teachers and students. He expressed his gratitude to the University of Saint Joseph for the support of Malaysian Chinese education.
Mr. Ben Lei, Head of Domestic Student Recruitment Office, provided an overview of USJ’s rich traditions and commitment to internationalisation, as well as its student-centred approach. He highlighted various aspects of campus life, including national knowledge advocacy, student mental health care, voluntary work, mobility opportunities, contemporary campus facilities, and admission scholarships specifically designed for students from Southeast Asia. Additionally, USJ’s distinctiveness through its unique programmes for disabled and incarcerated students was emphasised, reflecting the university’s dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its commitment to social responsibility.
The faculty members including Professor Rochelle Ge, the Dean of the School of Education,Prof. Karen Tagulao, Programme Coordinator for the Master of Environment Science and Management, Prof. Thomas Lei, Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Environmental Sciences, and Prof. Alessandro Lampo, Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Business Administration also elaborated on the features of the academic programmes, curriculum structures, and the overall student experiences, highlighting USJ’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment.
A particularly noteworthy segment of the meeting featured testimonials from two Malaysian student representatives: Miss Sharon Teng Hui Lee, a Master of Education student and USJ alumna with a Bachelor of Psychology, and Mr. Jaden Jude Justinian Ravindran, a Bachelor of Philosophy student who is also the scholarship recipient. Their reflections on campus life highlighted the university’s supportive and intellectually stimulating residential community. As Jaden aptly stated, “USJ is a small university that offers big opportunities.”
This visit represents a significant step in maintaining and enhancing the collaborative relationship between USJ Macao, Dong Zong, and various Malaysian Chinese Independent High Schools. It is anticipated that such moves will yield substantial benefits for students, fostering interconnected educational advocacy and enhancing cross-cultural exchanges.
