USJ Doctoral Symposium 2024 Convenes Leading Minds for Multi-Inter-Transdisciplinary Research
USJ Doctoral Symposium 2024 Convenes Leading Minds for Multi-Inter-Transdisciplinary Research
11
Nov
11/11/2024
The Doctoral School at USJ Macao organised its 2024 Doctoral Symposium under the theme on “Devising Multi-Inter-Transdisciplinary Research” from 5 – 8 November.
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) hosted its 2024 Doctoral Symposium focusing on “Devising Multi-Inter-Transdisciplinary Research.” from 5 – 8 November, at the Ilha Verde Campus.
The Symposium kicked off with an “Early-Bird Day” on 5 November, featuring the Presentation of the Doctoral Research Topics 2024. This pre-event, held at the Kent Wong Exhibition Gallery on the USJ Ilha Verde Campus, provided an excellent platform for students to introduce their research areas and engage in early discussions before the main programme.
The core Symposium commenced on 6 November with opening remarks from Professor Adérito Fernandes-Marcos, Dean of the Doctoral School, and Professor Stephen Morgan, Rector. Professor Alexandre Lobo, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, then provided valuable “Tips and Tricks for the Doctoral Journey.”
The first day’s agenda was rich, featuring Dr. Thushanthi Perera (Postdoctoral Fellow, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka) on digital storytelling for promoting healthy eating in children. This was followed by insightful preliminary findings presented by four doctoral students from diverse fields, including Business Administration, History, Psychology, and Government Studies.
Day two continued with three compelling main presentations: Dr. Maria Martins Burguete (Instituto Rocha Cabral, Portugal) explored “Science Matters: Towards A New Epistemology”; Dr. Diego Caicedo (Postdoctoral Fellow, European Scientific Institute, Macedonia) delved into “Human mobility issues: migration and dark-eco tourism encounter in the Darien Gap”; and Dr. Saima Aftab (Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wah, Pakistan) presented on “Leading the Future: Unleashing the Power of AI with Innovative Leadership Styles in Organizations.” Four more doctoral students from Information Systems, Education, and Science also shared their preliminary findings.
The Symposium’s final day began with Dr. Hermel O. Pama (Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines) on “Boats, Bodies, Belonging: The Ontological Turn Through Ethnographic Fields.” Professor Sandra Ng of USJ concluded the main sessions with a study on “The conditions of achieving interactive mindfulness through virtual reality single user: a case study experience in Macao.” A highlight was the public assessment of Vong Iok Ip Francisca’s Religious Studies doctoral progress, titled “Public Policy on Assisted Reproductive Technology in Macao: Perspectives on the Beginning of Human Life from Comparative Philosophy, Bioethics and Catholic Social Teaching.” The assessment panel included Professors Felipe Bacalso and Andrew Leong (USJ Examiners), and Professor Franz Gassner (USJ Supervisor).
The 2024 Doctoral Symposium concluded with closing remarks by Professor Adérito Fernandes-Marcos and Professor Álvaro Barbosa, Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Academic Affairs, followed by a celebratory dinner.
