USJ Explores Marine Research and Shandong Culture in Qingdao
USJ Explores Marine Research and Shandong Culture in Qingdao
09
Jun
09/06/2025
A 19-member delegation from USJ visited Qingdao for an exchange tour from 30 May to 3 June. The tour was aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of China’s cultural heritage, broaden their perspectives, and foster academic collaboration between institutions.
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) organized a five-day trip to Qingdao, Shandong, where participants explored the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), Ocean University of China (OUC), and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Museum. USJ hopes the tour allowed participants to witness China’s cultural legacy and national transformation firsthand, nurturing patriotic sentiment. The visits to these prestigious institutions also strengthened ties among alumni, faculty, and students.
Co-hosted by USJ and the Alumni Association of USJ (AAUSJ), the trip departed on 30 May. Led by Dr. Teresa Loong, Vice-Rector of USJ, alongside deputy leaders Dr. Benjamin Yue, Vice-president of AAUSJ General Assembly, and Mr. Addy Chan, Chairman of AAUSJ Executive Committee, the 19-member delegation engaged in a series of academic and cultural exchanges.
USJ and IOCAS Deepen Collaboration for Scientific Advancement
One of the delegation’s key visits was IOCAS, where Deputy Director Dr. Sha Zhongli highlighted fruitful cooperation since 2020, including the establishment of the Sino-Portugal Joint Laboratory for Marine and Environmental Sciences and joint national key R&D projects. Dr. Sha praised USJ’s unique role as an international bridge and expressed hopes for expanded collaboration in research, data sharing, and talent development.
Dr. Loong emphasized USJ’s global network—with students from 50+ countries and partnerships with 170+ institutions—and its small-class teaching model (1:11 faculty-student ratio). She proposed deeper cooperation in marine science, shared research resources, and joint supervision of students. IOCAS Director Wang Fan endorsed further collaboration, marking a new phase in Macao-mainland academic synergy.
USJ and OUC Explore New Directions in Marine Education
At OUC, Vice President Liu Yong showcased the university’s global leadership in marine and fisheries sciences, including its state-of-the-art research vessel Dong Fang Hong 3. Dr. Loong presented USJ’s international strengths, notably the Sino-Portugal Joint Laboratory. Both sides discussed joint talent programmes, research, and knowledge transfer, paving the way for future partnerships that could bolster the Greater Bay Area’s marine sector.
Cultural and Academic Enrichment
The delegation immersed in Qingdao’s history and landscapes—from Kang Youwei’s Former Residence, showcasing China’s reformist thought, to Xiao Yu Hill’s panoramic views of “red ties, green trees, turquoise sea, and blue skies.” They explored the Museum Of The Former German Governor’s House In Qingdao, reflecting Qingdao’s treaty-port past, and the PLA Navy Museum, highlighting China’s maritime defense evolution. Strolls through Zhongshan Road, St. Michael’s Cathedral, and Dabaodao Cultural District revealed the city’s East-meets-West charm.
The itinerary also included Taoist culture at Laoshan’s Taiqing Palace, coastal ecology studies at My Island, with Professor Karen Tagulao explaining marine ecosystems, and insights into industrial history at the Tsingtao Beer Museum. Visits to the Olympic Sailing Center, May Fourth Square, and Badaguan Scenic Area highlighted Qingdao’s modern urbanism and patriotic legacy.
The delegation returned to Macao on 3 June. USJ extends gratitude to the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR for its meticulous arrangements and to Bank of China Macau Branch for its sponsorship. This exchange not only facilitated academic dialogue but also laid groundwork for cross-regional collaboration. USJ aims to leverage these connections to advance partnerships with mainland marine research institutions, cultivate globally minded talent, and contribute to national marine and environmental science development.
