USJ Delegation Visits South China Agricultural University and Delivers Specialized Lectures
USJ Delegation Visits South China Agricultural University and Delivers Specialized Lectures
18
Jun
18/06/2026
The Department of Science and Environment at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) visited the College of Resources and Environment at South China Agricultural University (SCAU) for academic exchange and to deliver specialised lectures.
On 8 May 2026, a delegation from the Department of Science and Environment (DSE) at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) visited the College of Resources and Environment at South China Agricultural University (SCAU) for academic exchange and to deliver specialised lectures. The delegation included Prof. Karen Tagulao, Programme Coordinator of the DSE; Prof. Cristina Calheiros, Visiting Professor and Adjunct Researcher; and Ms. Jenny Mok, Senior Officer of the Domestic Student Recruitment Office. Representing SCAU were Prof. Zhong Yunxiao, Prof. Chen Yangmei, Deputy Head of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Prof. Chen Chengyu, Foreign Affairs Secretary of the College. Discussions focused on collaborative research in environmental science and engineering, international talent development, faculty and student exchanges, and research cooperation within the Greater Bay Area.
During the symposium, Prof. Tagulao and Prof. Calheiros presented the department’s research activities in areas including green infrastructure, sponge city construction, nitrogen and phosphorus removal in constructed wetlands, ecological floating island development, and mangrove ecological restoration. Ms. Mok introduced USJ’s international talent cultivation framework, postgraduate admissions policies, and master’s programmes and short-term practical exchange opportunities available to SCAU graduates.
SCAU representatives outlined the College’s development, disciplinary structure, and existing international collaborations. Prof. Zhong and Prof. Chen shared their research on constructed wetland development, wastewater treatment, and solid waste resource utilisation.
Both institutions reached preliminary agreement on several areas of potential cooperation, including faculty exchanges, joint research seminars, sharing of undergraduate and postgraduate course materials, online researcher pairing, academic lecture series, short-term exchanges for undergraduate and master’s students, postgraduate study pathways for outstanding students in Macau, co-supervision of graduate students, and collaborative research grant applications. Both sides acknowledged the potential for further collaboration in environmental science, ecological restoration, and water environment management.
The delegation later attended a session of the 2023 Environmental Engineering course “Physicochemical Treatment of Water Pollutants (English-taught)” at SCAU, where Prof. Tagulao and Prof. Calheiros delivered lectures on green infrastructure, sponge cities, constructed wetland treatment technologies, ecological floating islands, and the application of mangroves in water environment restoration. The lectures covered the development and current research trends in these areas, along with relevant engineering cases. Students participated in the session with questions and discussion.
The visit contributed to the ongoing cooperative relationship between USJ and SCAU, and provided a basis for further collaboration in environmental science and education within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. USJ intends to continue expanding its network of partnerships with mainland institutions, with the aim of supporting the development of environmental professionals and contributing to regional sustainability objectives.
This collaboration aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
