Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Dean’s Message
In a world of global business, emerging technologies and multicultural societies, finding creative solutions and innovative ways to address human needs has never been more important.
The field of Arts and Humanities traditionally focused on the Arts, Culture, History and Languages, provides a fundamental approach to address this challenge by looking forward to an entrepreneurial world of globalised communication and media.
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) offers a rich multicultural, and exciting environment for students to engage at the intersection of Arts, Humanities and Technology, addressing the great human challenges of our times. FAH offers degrees in four key areas of study: Media Arts and Technology; Architecture and Design; History and Heritage; Languages and Culture. Having these disciplines under the same Faculty provides a unique multidisciplinary environment in which students have access to exceptional educational opportunities and develop a sense of ethics and integrity as a whole-person who can think rigorously, critically and creatively. Above all, our students learn to value culture, human engagement and collaboration, which allows them to go beyond proficiency and become a master of their discipline.
Recent Publications by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Afonso, F., Januário, P. G., & Almeida, P. (2025). Rebuilding the Yao Stilt Houses Through Tree Graphs Generative Method, Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Structures and Architecture – REstructure REmaterialize REthink REuse – ICSA2025 (Published by Taylor & Francis).
- Caires, C.S. (2025). From Words to Icons. Advancements in Prompting Text-to-Image Models for Logo Design with Artificial Intelligence. In: Brandão, D., Martins, N., Duarte, E. (eds) Perspectives on Design and Digital Communication V. Springer Series in Design and Innovation, vol 50. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76156-0_12 .
- Estadieu, G., & Ng, S. O. K. M. (2025). Immersive Storytelling: Exploring the Intersection of Spatial Audio and Live Theatre. Book of Abstracts, Multimodus’25, 2nd International Conference on Sound and Image in Art & Design, 60–61. https://multimodus.ipportalegre.pt/
- Barreiros Proença, S. (2024). On the Time of Streets. IN_BO. Ricerche e Progetti per Il Territorio, La Città e l’architettura, 15(7s), 4–13. https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2036-1602/20415 (SCOPUS indexed journal editorial).
- Caires, C. S., Estadieu, G., & Olga Ng Ka Man, S. (2024). Design Thinking Methodology and Text-To-Image Artificial Intelligence: A Case Study in the Context of Furniture Design Education. In N. Martins, D. Brandão, & A. Fernandes-Marcos (Eds.), Perspectives on Design and Digital Communication IV: Research, Innovations and Best Practices (pp. 113–134). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41770-2_7
- Afonso, F., Soares, N. & Pinheiro, F. (2024): Taxonomy of the Wood-framed Stilt Buildings in Coloane Macau Through a Computational Shape Grammar, Proceedings of the XXII International Study Forum WORLD HERITAGE and DWELLING ON SPACE World Heritage and Cities in Emergencies.
- Caldeira, W., & Simões, JM (2024). Blurring Boundaries: Generative AI and the Evolution of Realistic Representations in Intermediartes. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Media, Arts and Interactions. ISBN 978-989-35125-7-9
- De Abreu, F. M., Seck, M., Pinheiro, F. V., & Estadieu, G. (2025). Macau cultural tapestry: Unravelling a city’s visual identity through its patterns and textures—digital archive and mapping. In D. Brandão, N. Martins, & E. Duarte (Eds.), Perspectives on Design and Digital Communication V (Vol. 50, pp. 133–167). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76156-0_7
- Han, Xiaoxuan. (2024). Preposições de tempo em chinês e em português. In. Zhang, J. & Grosso, M.J. (orgs.) Linguística Contrastiva: Estudos Português-Chinês. Macau: Universidade de Macau. ISBN: 978-99965-1-182-0
- Roberts, P. (2024). Tracing Modern Macao’s Evolving Global Role: Views from Transnational Archives. Revista de Cultura, International Edition 76 (2024), 100-115.
- Roberts, P. (2024). A ‘great steel arm of China thrusting its way into the African interior’: The Tanzam Railway and the PRC Experience in Africa. In Palgrave Handbook on China-Europe-Africa Relations, eds. Yichao Li, Francisco Leandro, Carlos Rodrigues, and Jorge Tavares. Singapore, Springer Nature, 2025, 337-367. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-5640-7
- Simões, JM (2024). A liberdade de imprensa em língua Portuguesa em Macau, in Lusocom.net, Federação Lusófona de Ciências da Comunicação, (pp. 227-245). Anuário Internacional de Comunicação Lusófona – Lusofonias e Decolonialidade 2023/2024. CECS/Lusocom/ Sopcom, ISSN: 2255-2243
FAH Facilties






List of Programmes
Pre-University
Bachelor Programme
Master Programme
Doctoral Programme
Faculty Members
Faculty Members
Álvaro Barbosa
Vice-Rector
Born in Angola in 1970 of Portuguese nationality, Álvaro Barbosa is a Full-Professor with an academic and professional background in Engineering, Arts, and Computer Science. For over 20 years he worked for international Universities in Europe, North America, and Asia, serving as a scholar/researcher and undertaking numerous academic leadership positions as coordinator, dean, and vice-rector. He is currently responsible for the areas of internationalization and academic affairs as a vice-rector at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), in Macao, S.A.R. China. Prior to this position, Prof. Barbosa served as Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries at USJ from 2012 to 2018, and before that as Head of the Sound and Image Department of the School of Arts at the Catholic University of Portugal (UCP), where He co-founded in 2004 the Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts (CITAR), in 2009 the Creative Business Incubator ARTSpin and in 2011 the Digital Creativity Center (CCD). Prof. Barbosa also designed and implemented various innovative curricula at UCP and USJ, including a Doctoral Program in Science and Technology of the Arts, a Master's Degree in Creative Industries Management, a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design, a Bachelor's Degree in Digital Cinema, and Post-Graduate programs in Photography and Digital Design. Holding a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Digital Communication from Pompeu Fabra University in Spain and an Undergraduate Degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Aveiro in Portugal, his core academic research is grounded in the field of Audio and Music Technology, which he developed as a researcher at the Barcelona Music Technology Group (MTG) between 2001 and 2006. His work, on experimental Network Music and Interactive Sound-Design Systems, was consolidated in 2010 during a Post-Doctoral Research Position at Stanford University's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). Prof. Barbosa's academic research has been published extensively in peer-reviewed conferences and journals, collaborating with a large number of renowned international researchers. In addition, he was the founding editor of the Journal for Science and Technology of the Arts, and regularly collaborates in scientific committees of prestigious international Journals and Conferences. As an Experimental Media Artist, Prof. Barbosa also produced, presented, and performed various projects worldwide, featuring creative work in Electronic and Acoustic Music, Interactive Art Installations, Photography, Sound Design, Computer Animation, and Audiovisual Media Production. In recent years, his Academic focus has been in fostering Systematic Creativity as an essential process applied to Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership, by mentoring start-ups, supervising and teaching in multiple international University Programs ( i.e. Design, Architecture, Cultural Studies, Media Communication, and Business Administration). More Information: www.abarbosa.orgcademic affairs
Carlos Sena Caires
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities | Associate Professor | Research Coordinator for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities | Acting Coordinator for the Liberal Arts Modules of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Born in Funchal in 1971, Professor Carlos Sena Caires is a renowned academic and digital artist. He received his bachelor's degree in Design from the University of Madeira in Portugal in 1994, followed by a Master's degree in Digital Arts from the Catholic University of Portugal in 2001 and a doctorate in Aesthetics, Sciences, and Technology of the Arts from the University of Paris 8 in France in 2010. Prof. Sena Caires has taught at the Catholic University of Portugal since 1999 and became an Assistant Professor at the School of Arts in 2009. He has also been the Coordinator of the Master of Sound and Image and the Post-graduate degree in Digital Design since 2011. From 2010 to 2013, he was the chief editor of the CITAR Journal, the Journal of Science and Technology of the Arts. As a senior researcher, he also served as the Digital Creativity Research Group Coordinator at the CITAR research centre from 2010 to 2016.Currently, Prof. Sena Caires is an Associate Professor in Design and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph in Macao, China.His research interests focus on Digital Design, Interactive Arts, and New Media Design. He has produced numerous artistic projects and performed worldwide, including in Portugal, Spain, France, Brazil, Canada, and China. His creative art projects revolve around interactive video installations, cinema, and digital art/video installations.
João Brochado
Senior Lecturer | Head of the Department of Media, Arts and Technology
João Nuno Brochado was born in 1983 in Porto, Portugal. At the age of 15 João creates his first documentary about the S. João National Theatre, for a school project. In 2001 he enrolls in the School of Arts of the Catholic University of Portugal, where he graduates in Sound and Image and lately got a Master Degree specializing in Cinema and Audiovisual. During those years he works in documentaries, commercials, live events and cinema, and his final project "TAX FREE" was selected for more than 20 festivals and won several awards. In 2006 he did a New York Film Academy's intensive course, and later was a teacher assistant there. He did an internship at Utopia Filmes, in Lisbon. In 2007, his entrepreneurial spirit led him with 3 colleagues to create Cimbalino Filmes studios in Porto. There, he has been directing and producing projects: promotional films for several renowned brands and also television shows, music videos and short-films like the awarded "Tokyo Porto 9 hours" and "Down to the Sea". He also participated in the creation of virtual scenarios in video mapping, for plays, concerts and events and with A.I generated videos in several exhibitions around the world. In 2014 João releases his 1st feature documentary "A Man Sized Mountain" which was nº1 sales for 6 weeks. His short-film "Family Heirloom" commissioned by the Macao Cultural Center was released in 2021, and he is now working on a new documentary "Yagi".João started his academic career as a visiting professor in 2008 at the School of Arts of Catholic University of Portugal, and then in 2016 at the Faculty of Creative Industries of the University of Saint Joseph, in Macau. He is now a full time senior lecturer at the Department of Media, Art and Technology at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of St. Joseph in Macao, and a PhD candidate in Global Studies, researching on cinema and filmmaking.
Nuno Soares
Senior Lecturer | Head of the Department of Architecture and Design
Nuno Soares is an architect and urban planner based in Macau since 2003, spreading his practice through architectural design, teaching, and research.Nuno is the Head of the Department of Architecture and Design at the University of Saint Joseph in Macau and a frequent speaker, lecturer and juror internationally. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong between 2013 and 2020, where he lectured studio in the Master in Urban Design and supervised over 40 master dissertations.He graduated in Architecture of Urban and Territorial Planning from the Faculty of Architecture – Lisbon Technical University (2004). Under the Socrates-Erasmus mobility program, he developed a Final Thesis at the Faculty of Architecture - Polytechnic Institute of Milan, Laboratorio di Sintesi (2000). Nuno has a Post-graduation in Modern and Contemporary Architecture Culture at the Faculty of Architecture – Lisbon Technical University (2007) and a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Urbanism from the Faculty of Architecture – Lisbon Technical University (2010). He is a PhD candidate in Urbanism at the School of Architecture – University of Lisbon, to be completed in 2024. Nuno is the Co-Director of the UNESCO-UIA Validation Commission (2023–2026). He has been a member of the Education Commission of the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the UNESCO-UIA Validation Council for Architectural Education since 2014, representing UIA Region IV. He has experience as a member and chair of report groups for the validation of architecture programmes internationally under the UNESCO-UIA VCAE.He is the Secretary General of the Council of Portuguese Speaking Architects (CIALP), Vice-President of the Architects Association of Macau (AAM), and a Member of the Council of Architecture, Engineering and Urbanism of Macau SAR (CAEU). Nuno is past Vice-President of ARCASIA (Architects Council of Asia) Zone C and past Chairman of the ARCASIA Committee for Architectural Education.He is the founder and president of the Macau-based CURB – Center for Architecture and Urbanism, a non-profit that promotes research, education, production and dissemination of knowledge in architecture and urbanism, taking local issues to a global audience. CURB is an associate member of the World Urban Campaign, part of UN-Habitat, and a founding member of the Greater Bay Area Urban Designer Alliance. In 2018, Nuno founded and curated the Open House Macau, the first in Asia.As principal of his office, UP - Urban Practice, he develops projects ranging from the urban scale to architecture and design in Macau and abroad. His work has been awarded and exhibited internationally, at the ExperimentaDesign (2005), Salone Satellite (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), UABB Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture (Shenzhen) (2013, 2015), Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism (2017), and Venice Biennale of Architecture (2013), amongst others.
Daniel Farinha
Assistant Professor
Daniel Filipe Farinha is an Assistant Professor with a cross-disciplinary background in artificial intelligence, information systems, and digital media. He holds a PhD in Information Systems and brings over 20 years of industry experience in software architecture, network systems, and AI applications, alongside 7+ years of university-level teaching.His research focuses on ethical and autonomous AI systems, decentralised technologies, blockchain governance, and the preservation of digital heritage. He explores the intersection of machine ethics, explainable AI, DAOs, and sustainable digital economies, with additional interests in creative computing, HCI, UX, and generative media.He teaches subjects ranging from programming and creative coding to statistics and mathematics, and actively engages in curriculum development across design, architecture, and communication and media programmes, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Research Interests: Agentic AI, Machine Ethics, Explainable AI, AI Governance, Decentralised Systems, Blockchain, Smart Contracts, Digital Heritage, DAOs, Crypto-Art, Information Systems, Generative Media, HCI, Tokenomics
José Simões
Associate Professor
Professor José Manuel SimõesE-mail: jmsimoes@usj.edu.moPh.D., PostDoc, Associate Professor, Head of the Media, Art & Technology Department, Communication & Media Master and Bachelor Programs Coordinator.Since 2008 Professor José Manuel Simões is part of USJ, published worldwide and participated in conferences and academic committees in three continents. Before he was a professor and a cultural journalist, worked especially on cultural themes at the best sellers Portuguese newspapers. He published ten books (three academic books, two novels, one musical book and four biographies), made art performances, photography exhibitions in different countries, directed videos, video clips and documentaries. He has several articles published in England, Portugal, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, China and Macau SAR.PostDoc in Science of the Communication, at the Portuguese Catholic University, Ph.D in Global Studies at the University of Saint Joseph, a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism at the Faculty of Letters of Coimbra University, a Bachelor Degree in International Journalism at Superior School of Journalism, Porto, Portugal, where he taught for several years.At the University of Saint Joseph, where he's Associate Professor, Head of the Media, Art & Technology Department and Communication & Media Master and Bachelor Programs Coordinator since 2009, he teaches different subjects like Media Ethics, Ethics and Public Policy, Ethics and Global Citizenship, Media Ethics, Creative Writing and Scripting, Journalism and Photography, Internship, Art Appreciation & Criticism, Theories of Mass Communication or Public Relations and Events. He his specialist in Media Ethics, Ethnic minorities and in Multicultural Journalism. His most recent publications include “The pedagogical role of ethics and deontology for future professionals of communication and media: How to develop and nourish virtues”, “Multilingual freedom of the press in Macau”, “Contribuições para um novo processo de comunicação: tornar comum, dar forma e contornar os fenômenos de rejeição dos media” and “The Political and Economic Dependence of the Press in Macao under Portuguese and Chinese Rule: Continuity and Change” and published extensively in international academic journals and media outlets specially about Communication and Media.
Filipa Martins
Assistant Professor
Filipa Martins, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macao SAR. She teaches across interaction design, game design, visual communication, and the history and theory of art and design, aiming to connect past movements and methods with present-day practice. Filipa is also a postdoctoral researcher at the Tangible Music Lab at the University of Arts in Linz, where she studies design patterns for spatial audio interactions. She holds a PhD in Science and Technology of the Arts (Interactive Art) from the Catholic University of Portugal-Porto School of Arts, an MSc in Multimedia & Entertainment Technology from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University-School of Design, and a Bachelor (Portuguese Licenciatura+5) in Communication Design from the University of Lisbon-Faculty of Fine Arts. At USJ, she has contributed to academic life as president of the Faculty Pedagogical Council and as a member of the University Senate and General Council, and she currently serves on the FAH Sustainable Development Goals Team and the Green Committee. Her professional experience spans Vietnam, Taiwan, Portugal, Hong Kong, China, and Macao in roles such as consultant, researcher, lecturer, project lead, design manager, and creative director, with projects ranging from branding and digital interactive products to game design and R&D. Recent work includes studies of Macao’s visual identity through patterns and textures, tangible interaction projects, and the use of mobile platforms in learning environments. She serves as a member of the IEEE (Macau Section), as a jury member for the A’ Design Award & Competition S.R.L., and on the scientific committees of ARTECH International, ARTEFACTo, DIGICOM, ROTURA, ICEC and China Daily. Her research and teaching are guided by an interest in user-centered design, creativity, learning and teaching, and simple methods that help people engage thoughtfully with design. -----------------------------------------ORCIDGOOGLE SCHOLAR-----------------------------------------IEEE MEMBER | MACAU SECTIONJury Member || A' Design Award & Competition S.R.L.Scientific Committee || ARTECH InternationalScientific Committee || DIGICOMScientific Committee || ROTURAScientific Committee || ICEC
Filipa Simões
Senior Lecturer
Filipa Simões is a designer and educator based in Macau since 2004. She graduated in Communication Design from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon and holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Saint Joseph. She is currently a PhD Student in Design at the School of Architecture of the University of Lisbon.With over ten years of experience as a professor of Design, Filipa is the Programme Coordinator of the Bachelor of Design and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Architecture and Design of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ). As a design educator, she aims to enable students to develop projects that contribute to their community’s quality of life.Filipa has lectured the Capstone Project of the USJ’s Bachelor of Design for over ten years, supervising more than seventy research-based projects guided by a solid vision to serve the community, improve people's lives, and contribute to a more sustainable future. The projects are showcased in public exhibitions every academic year's end. Several were internationally recognised, receiving twelve design awards, two selections for international design exhibitions, and one design patent.She founded Whydesign in 2005, a design studio that explores the communication design potential of each project across different areas, from editorial design to visual identity, spatial branding, exhibition design, and web design. Her works have won several awards and have been published and exhibited internationally. Filipa is also the director of Ponte 9 Creative Platform, a synergetic ecosystem for creative industries startups located in the heart of Macau’s Inner Harbour with offices, a fabrication lab, and a multifunctional space for exhibitions and conferences. Filipa’s research is centred on Design Thinking, Urban Culture, and Community Engagement, with a focus on the visualisation of urban conditions in Macau. She has led or participated in research and applied research initiatives, such as Industrial Materials Recycling in Macao, Macau Digital Mapping, and Macau Villages. Her editorial design work of over 22 years in Lisbon, Macau, China, and Japan is reflected in her drive to disseminate research through the publication of books.She is the co-founder of CURB – Center for Architecture and Urbanism (CURB), a non-profit organisation that promotes the production and dissemination of knowledge in architecture, urbanism and urban culture. As part of her work at CURB, she was the art director and co-curator of projects exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale, the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Architecture Biennale in 2013 and 2015, the Seoul Architecture and Urbanism Biennale in 2017, and Open House Macau in 2018.
Filipe Afonso
Senior Lecturer
Filipe Afonso is an Oporto based architect and researcher. In 2006 he founded Arquitectos Anónimos®, an architectural studio that organizes an opened space stimulating the work as a kind of an individual supplanting, reacting in the contemporary Portuguese context of the exaggerated weight of authorship “individuality”. In this sense Filipe has been developing a methodology for his architectural practice based on advanced computation as a strategy to design possible architectures, trying to focus more on processes that in the individual genius. Filipe Afonso holds a Master of Architecture from the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (Barcelona-Spain) in 2009 within the theme “Programming Architecture”, a research on the articulation of emerging material systems for architecture, exploring novel design methodology and performances based on computation and bio-computation. Filipe also studied through international programs promoted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Texas at Austin. His understanding of architectural practice as a problem of engineering material organization focuses his research on the development of an integral and coherent design approach at the intersection of architecture, sustainability, engineering and computation in the endeavor to develop generative systems applied to his architectural production under Arquitectos Anónimos studio. He worked independently from 2001 to 2006 and, among other projects, he has designed and built the Cultural Centre of Ílhavo. He is an award-winning architect and educator. He has taken part to several exhibitions, lectures and workshops and has been published widely. Recently he was an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has taught design studios and master classes from 2010 to the present days at the School of Arts and Design, ESAD (Porto), Lusophone University of Humanities Technologies (Lisbon), Universidade Lusofona Porto and at University Innsbruck, Institut fur Gestaltung. He has been an invited critic, guest lecturer, and keynote speaker at various institutions in Portugal, Austria, Australia, Netherland, Bulgaria, Slovenia, United States, South Korea and China.
Gerald Estadieu
Assistant Professor
GERALD ESTADIEU is currently an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) - Macao. With a Master's Degree in Signal and Image Processing from the Université d’Orléans (France) and a PhD in Science and Technology of the Arts from the Catholic University of Portugal (School of Arts, Porto), his research and artistic activities focus on the fields of Interactivity, Soundscape, Spatial Audio and Ambisonics, as well as Hacking and Digital Fabrication. He created the fab lab at the University of Saint Joseph and co-founded the first fablab in Macau. He is also a member of several international collaborative experiments, such as Museomix and Hackmychurch. He has developed artistic projects for local and international exhibitions, integrating soundscapes, interactive technology, and digital fabrication. His work has been exhibited in Macau, Vietnam, Thailand, Portugal and South Korea.He is currently leading a research project in collaboration with the University of Arts of Linz (Austria) on an innovative Spatial Audio system.KEYWORDS: #ambisoncis #soundsdcape #fablab #interactivity, #instalationarts
Miguel Rosa Duque
Assistant Professor
Dr. Miguel Rosa Duque is a prominent and esteemed designer within the design community. He has over 30 years of experience in the design industry and has taught at various universities for more than 15 years. He previously taught at Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University in China, where he inspired numerous students with his passion for design and innovation before joining the University of Saint Joseph. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Design from Curtin University in Australia, a Master of Design in Virtual Environment Design from the University of Saint Joseph, and a PhD in Communication from the University of Macau, concentrating on research in Virtual Reality. His multidisciplinary education has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of both the creative and technical aspects of design. Renowned for his commitment to fostering student creativity and consistently exceeding expectations, Dr. Miguel believes that education should empower students to explore the boundaries of their creativity and uncover their unique voices. His pedagogical philosophy emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and inquiry, encouraging students to interrogate and interact with contemporary design paradigms. He has instructed numerous diverse courses throughout his career. Included among them are 3D Design, Digital Image Manipulation, Digital Art, Digital Imaging and Design, Interactive Arts and Design, Web Design, Narrative and Interactivity in Media Arts, and Design Management. He has familiarized students with the complexities of electronic media and analyzed specialized topics in media arts and design. Miguel's primary research interests involve virtual reality, human-computer interaction, presence, and 3D virtual environments for gaming. He is passionate about exploring the intersection of technology and art, and he seeks to ascertain the extent of his capabilities within virtual environments. His research enhances academic discourse and informs students about the latest advancements in the field. His dedication to fostering creativity and exploration maintains a substantial influence on design education.RESEARCH INTERESTSDesign: UX | UI // Virtual Reality // 3D Modeling // Human Interactive Design // Poker Studies // Web Design
Sandra Ng
Assistant Professor
Sandra Olga Ng, Ka Man, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History and Heritage, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macau, China. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Macau, she has cultivated a diverse skill set and academic background. Sandra holds a master's degree in Communication and Media from USJ, and she holds a Ph.D. in Global Studies. Her research focusses on 3D modelling, rendering, virtual reality, and interactive mindfulness, with a particular emphasis on exploring the applications and impact of Virtual Reality (VR).In addition to her academic pursuits, Sandra has accumulated extensive experience in various fields, including Public Relations, translations, digital illustration, and social media communication, since her graduation with a Bachelor's degree in 2015.Sandra's dedication to advancing knowledge in her field is evident through her published academic papers, conference presentations, and participation in international events. Her recent paper, "In Memorial and Serenity: Introducing VR Grave Mourning in the Chapel of St. Michael in Macao," published in the International Journal of Creative Interfaces and Computer Graphics, exemplifies her commitment to innovative research.Apart from her academic achievements, Sandra is an accomplished professional in the realm of digital design. She showcases her creative projects on platforms like Behance, Kuula, and Thangs, providing a glimpse into her 3D modelling and VR ventures. Noteworthy among her creative endeavours are the VR exhibition "ARTeFACTo2022Macao" and "Night Painting Selected Works 2018-2023" and the immersive VR tour of the Holy Cross Chapel of the University of Saint Joseph.As an educator, Sandra has supervised and guided students in their academic endeavours. One of her notable supervisions led to the development of "COMMUNICARE," an interactive multisensory application to care for trees in Macao.Sandra's influence extends beyond the classroom, as she has organised and participated in workshops and creative events, both locally and internationally. Her contributions to events such as the ARTeFACTo 2022 Macao International Conference and the UN World Data Forum Satellite Event in 2023 underscore her commitment to fostering creativity and knowledge exchange.In collaboration with Seton Hall University, Sandra spearheaded the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) Exhibit Showcase in 2024, showcasing the collaborative efforts of students and faculty from both institutions.Sandra Olga Ng, Ka Man, is not only an academician and researcher but also an innovative designer and mentor, leaving an indelible mark on the intersection of technology, art, and education. Her multifaceted contributions reflect a passionate commitment to pushing the boundaries of creativity and knowledge in the dynamic landscape of communication and media studies.For a more visualised presentation of my portfolio and resume, click here: https://sandraolgang.wixsite.com/sandra-olgaOrcid: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0009-0006-3709-353XResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ka-Man-Ng-4Academia: https://usj-mo.academia.edu/SandraNgGoogle Scholar: Sandra Olga Ng Ka ManBēhance: https://www.behance.net/sandraolgangKuula: https://kuula.co/profile/SandraOlgaThangs: https://thangs.com/designer/SandraOlgaNg
Tania Ribeiro Marques
Senior Lecturer | Head of the Department of Languages and Culture
Tânia Ribeiro Marques holds a Master Degree in Portuguese as Second Language/Foreign Language Studies by Faculty of Arts and Humanities of University of Porto with research in oral expression and interaction assessment. Due to her strong interest in Language Assessment Tânia also had professional training in the field by ALTE – Association of Language Testers in Europe, and participated in international conferences under the same subject. With a strong interest in Education and Teaching she also holds an Advanced Studies Diploma in Languages Teaching – Multilingualism and Education for a Global Citizenship from NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities with Universidade Aberta (UAb) in Lisbon, Portugal. Being passionate about language sciences, Tânia decided to deepen her knowledge in the linguistic field, an area that she started studying during her bachelor degree and she is currently doing her PhD research in Studies of Language Sciences, field of Linguistics in Faculty of Arts and Humanities of University of Porto, being also certified with specialisation in Forensic Linguistics by the same institution, since 2025. Her main interests in the Linguistic field, besides Applied Linguistics to Language Teaching, are in the specific areas of Forensic Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis.Tânia started her career as a Portuguese Instructor teaching Conversation and Writing classes in School of Arts and Humanities of University of Lisbon and after that first experience, she worked with several universitarian and non universitarian institutions in Portugal as European Language School, CCL – ISCTE or IEFP where she taught Portuguese as foreign and mother tongue. From 2008 to 2015 taught Portuguese as a Foreign Language in Portuguese Language and Culture Department/Institute of Portuguese Culture and Language of the School of Arts and Humanities of University of Lisbon. Simultaneously Tânia Ribeiro Marques taught Professional Language and Communication Module in DEI – Computer Engineering Department of Technical University of Lisbon and Portuguese as a Foreign Language at Atlântica University of Lisbon. From 2015 to 2020 she was a lecturer at IPOR – Instituto Português do Oriente, Macao and currently she takes a position as Senior Lecturer at University of Saint Joseph where she is also the Head of the Department of Languages and Culture of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
Camila Macedo
Senior Lecturer
Graduated in Letters Brazilian Portuguese as a Second Language in 2010 and in Spanish Letters from University of Brasília (UnB) in 2014. In 2016 Master in Applied Linguistics from UnB and in Multidisciplinary Education from the State University of New York (SUNY). For 9 years, she worked as a teacher at School of the Nations and as a teacher and pedagogical supervisor at Center for Teaching and Research in Portuguese for Foreigners (NEPPE) at UnB.Curriculum Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/3411180274795062
Tao Chen
Lecturer
Tao Chen holds a Master Degree in Chinese-Portuguese Translation and Interpreting from Macao Polytechnic University, benefiting from a deep experience in both the theoretical and practical aspects of translation and interpreting, Tao Chen has approximately 10 years of professional practice which provides a solid foundation and a holistic understanding of the various subjects related to Chinese-Portuguese translation and interpreting.From 2022 and 2024, he was a Lecturer at Macao Polytechnic University and currently, a Lecturer at University of Saint Joseph.
Viviana Han
Assistant Professor
Viviana Han, Ph.D, graduated in Applied Linguistics (Portuguese) from University of Macau. Her research mainly focuses on Comparative Linguistics between Chinese and Portuguese, Cognitive Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition.
Priscilla Roberts
Associate Professor | Head of the Department of History and Heritage
Priscilla Roberts is a British-born historian, educated at King’s College, Cambridge, from which she holds BA and PhD degrees in History. She was among the first women admitted to King's College, and the first woman admitted as an undergraduate there to complete a PhD degree.Throughout her academic career she has researched aspects of international transitions of power and the role of elites, as private individuals and through institutions, in the making of foreign policy in the United States, Great Britain, and the British dominions, and in Western-Asian relations. Her current research interests focus upon the formal and informal roles of transnational elites, foreign policy think tanks, and philanthropic foundations, in Anglo-American relations, Western-Asian relations, and British imperial history, and power transitions from the late 19th to early 21st centuries. Since moving to Macau, she has also developed a strong interest in the territory’s history, especially in terms of its global significance, and in the Portuguese-speaking world.After completing her PhD thesis, Priscilla Roberts spent several years on research fellowships in the United States, before moving to Hong Kong, where she worked for many years in the History Department of the University of Hong Kong. She came to Macau in 2017, working first at City University of Macau, where she was awarded an Outstanding Teaching Award in 2020, and then at the University of St. Joseph. She has held many research grants and fellowships from bodies in Hong Kong, the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Macau. She spent the year 2003 as a Fulbright Fellow at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and has held visiting fellowships at the University of Edinburgh, the National Library of Australia, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, United States.Since 1990, Priscilla Roberts has been coordinator/chief organizer of more than a dozen international conferences, workshops, and seminars, bringing together scholars from China and elsewhere, which have resulted in eleven edited volumes and a special journal issue.Priscilla Roberts is a life member of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, the Organization of American Historians, and the American Historical Association. She was a founding member and Management Committee Member of the Transatlantic Studies Association; she currently serves on the TSA's Board of Management and has for several years chaired the TSA's Book Prize Committee.She is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of H-Diplo, the leading H-Net platform in international history, and serves on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of American-East Asian Relations and of Diplomatica.Priscilla Roberts has supervised many master's and doctoral students. She is willing to supervise postgraduate students with interests in international history, global history, Western-Asian relations, or Macau studies. She is working on a history of the development of modern higher education in Macau, so is particularly familiar with that subject, and may be able to suggest specific topics in this field and other aspects of Macau studies to potential students.
Jerry Tsu
Lecturer
Mr. Jerry Tsu (Tsu, Hsin Jen) was born in Taiwan. He is a native speaker of Mandarin. He has been teaching Mandarin at USJ since 2007. He graduated from National Taiwan Normal University in 1994. He has a Master's degree of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages in Jinan University in Guangzhou. He had over ten-year working experience in Taiwan. He was a secondary school teacher, a tuba and sousaphone player in a national military band under two-year compulsory military service and an administrative manager in a management consulting company. He adopts Task-based Language Learning Pedagogy in his teaching. By using multimedia materials as tools, various tasks and activities relevant to real-life situations are applied into the Mandarin programme. Students are encouraged to develop Mandarin skills through task interactions and to learn Mandarin for communication purpose. Travels, reading, playing the clarinet and listening to music are all his favorite hobbies.
Roberto Ceolin
Assistant Professor
Roberto Ceolin, MA (Conim.), MPhil, DPhil (Oxon.) was educated in Coimbra, Salamanca, Salzburg and Oxford. He wrote his doctoral thesis on the Greek verb. He has taught Latin and Greek, as well as courses on historical and synchronic linguistics, in Salamanca, Salzburg and Oxford. At present he teaches ancient languages at the Faculty of Theology-USJ, Macau.
Emeritus Professors
Maria Antónia Nicolau Espadinha
Emeritus Professor
Maria Antónia Nicolau Espadinha Born in Vila de Frades , Alentejo, Portugal Licenciate in Germanistics (Oral defense of thesis) ( University of Lisbon, 1967) Internship and Teacher’s Professional Exam (1970) PhD in Romance Languages and Cultures (University of Salzburg, Austria, 1976). Secondary School Teacher ( 1964-1972 and ) University of Salzburg (1972-1977) University of Lisbon, Portugal (1978-1994) University of Macau (1994-2014) Professor Emerita at UM since 2007 University of St Joseph 2014…) Research Interests: Literature,Folk Literature,Translation Studies,Comparative Literature. Hobbies: Reading, Music, theater, sports
Adjunct Professors
Francisco Vizeu Pinheiro
Adjunct Associate Professor (Visiting Academic)
(樊飛豪) Francisco V. Pinheiro, PhD, is Associate Professor Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of Architecture and Design at University of St. Joseph in Macau, and Visiting Professor in Jiangnam University (江南大学), in Mainland China.in 2006 received is doctorate (phD) on Engineering in Architecture and Building Engineering at the Technological Institute of Tokyo, Japan (東京工業大学). 2017 received a Master of Environmental Sciences and Management at the Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Macau-China. In 1984 received his Licentiate in architecture from the University of Lisbon, Portugal. His work involves the urban rehabilitation projects in Macau historical centre. He work for several years in private and different government institutions related with city planing like, for example IAM. Several of the projects were recognised and listed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage. His research is to study the demographic and social impact of public housing in an ageing society, the green urbanism synergies with revitalizations, and the tourism in Macau. The core of his research is to provide an insight to the realm where the values of our local culture were replaced by massive cooperative trends and seemed to vanish in a tsunami of globalization. Citizens feel like robots and even lost in the city. Is heritage a relic of our past, or a reflection of our present identity, or a by-product of corporations? In a globalized world, the search for preserving cultural and identical factors, (i.e. our cultural DNA, memories, cultural patterns, spirits of places and traditions), are critical for future generations. He challenges the concept that contemporary style intervention and modern narratives on heritage facilities represent “authentic” narratives of preservation. The intromission of different architectural languages on the concept and work of other author’s represent an adulteration of originality as well copyright infringement. He links “Authenticity” concepts with the word and work of “Author”. Authenticity is in many cases embodies by the local communities traditions, the authors, that transmitted from generation to generation, in a process often compared with “re-incarnation” assuming in reality the original idea and concepts. He advocates the urban rehabilitation and architectural conservation as important parts in urban planning and city development, in an Holistic and Sustainable planning, heritage is not and hindrance but a complement of a balanced urban development. He sees the need to find new ways to protect local Asian traditions and to break the strong colonial and intellectual dependence of the western culture, creating new bridges for mutual understanding and dialogue.
Jorge Carlos Cardoso
Adjunct Assistant Professor (Visiting Academic)
I'm an Assistant Professor at the Department of Informatics Engineering (DEI) of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC), and a researcher at the Centre for Informatics and Systems of the University of Coimbra (CISUC).At the University of Coimbra, I teach Internet Technology⇗, Interactive Media Design⇗, Interface Architecture⇗, and Interactive Virtual Reality Environments⇗.I'm also a Visiting Academic at the University of Saint Joseph, Macau, China, where I teach the Virtual Reality Environments⇗ module of the Design Master Programme.My research interests include Human-Computer Interaction, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Tangible User Interfaces, Interaction Techniques, Interaction Design.
Marina Peres
Adjunct Assistant Professor (Visiting Academic)
Marina Peres born and grew up in Porto, Portugal. She has a PhD degree in Design (Design Management). She has been working as a multidisciplinary designer since 1989. As a Multidisciplinary Designer she has been developed her skills and competences in Communication Design, Strategic Design Thinking for brands and services with the main focus on service design for businesses and organizations. She worked as Senior Designer at RTP - Radio and Television of Portugal, designing broadcast identities and coordinating the Information Design Service. As long the last 25 years, she has been sharing her knowledge and market experience between different cultures, ways of acting, education systems and cultural diversity: Catholic University of Porto - School of Arts (Portugal), European University - IADE (Portugal), School of Media Arts and Design (Portugal), ISMT (Portugal), PolyU Design (Hong Kong), Vilnius Academy of Art (Lithuania), University Saint Joseph (Macau) and American University of Sharjah - College of Architecture, Art and Design (UAE), exploring different subjects: Strategic Design Management; Visual Communication; Brand Identity; Design Thinking; Design Research; Innovation and Strategy; Service Design; Visual Design and Motion Graphics. She is an integrated researcher at ID+ Research Institute for Design, Media and Culture | Strategic Design Lab. (SD Lab) - University of Aveiro, working and researching on the topic of Strategic Communication, Visual narratives and Storytelling.
Paulo Ferreira Lopes
Adjunct Associate Professor (Visiting Academic)
Paulo Ferreira-LopesBetween 1988 and 1991 studied in Lisbon composition with Constança Capdeville.In 1994 Paulo Ferreira-Lopes moved to Paris. Between 1995 and 1997 studied in Paris composition with Emmanuel Nunes, Antoine Bonnet and Computer Music with Curtis Roads. In 1996 he received a Master in Composition - University of Paris VII - under the advice of Horacio Vaggione.In 1996 further studies in composition with Karlheinz Stockhausen at the "Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik", Darmstadt. Also in 1996, distinguished as Researcher with a scholarship of the French Government by the "Ministere de la Recherche" at the "Departement d’Esthétique et Technologies des Arts" of University of Paris VIII . In 1997, composition-prize at Stasis et Vita competition Kassel, Germany. Founder and Director (between 1992/95) of the Electronic Music Studio C.C.I.M. Founder and Director (2000) of the Summer Workshops - olhAres de Outono at Portuguese Catholic Univesity Porto.Since 1998, artist in residence and researcher at ZKM - Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie - Karlsruhe Germany. Since 2002, member from the European Parlament of Culture . In 2004 he received the Doctor degree from the University of Paris VIII.Founder and Director from the Research Centre for Science and Technology in Art CITAR (2004-2007) and Professor at Portuguese Catholic University.Director of the Music Department - Portuguese Catholic University (2010-2013).Invited Professor at Karlsruhe Music University Since 2014 .Associated Professor at University of Applied Sciences - Mainz.Paulo Ferreira-Lopes works has been produced in international festivals - Musica STRASBOURG, MUSICAVIVA, Estoril Summer Festival, documenta X - Essen, Biennal S. Paulo, ZKM-Karlsruhe, World Music Day’s, Gulbenkian Fondation, Expo 98 Portugal , through important ensembles of the contemporary artistic scnene as AccrocheNote, OrchestrUtopica , Ensemble Modern Frankfurt, etc..
Faculty External Advisory Board Members
Johnathan Wong
Director Palmer and Turner, MacaoImmediate Past President of the Board of the AAM
Last Updated: January 23, 2026 at 4:14 pm






