USJ Sustainable Business Lab Officially Inaugurated with a MoU Signing and a Roundtable on “Employee Wellbeing in the Hospitality Industry”at Artyzen Grand Lapa
USJ Sustainable Business Lab Officially Inaugurated with a MoU Signing and a Roundtable on "Employee Wellbeing in the Hospitality Industry"at Artyzen Grand Lapa
28
Nov
28/11/2025
The Sustainable Business Lab of the USJ Faculty of Business and Law was officially inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau. The launch was celebrated by the supporting partners of the Lab – Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, TODA, and CESL Asia.
The Sustainable Business Lab of the Faculty of Business and Law, University of Saint Joseph, Macao (USJ), a pioneering initiative designed to shape the future of sustainable business practices, was officially inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau.
The launch was celebrated by the supporting partners of the Lab – Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, TODA, and CESL Asia – who have come together to create a collaborative hub for innovation, practical learning, and the integration of sustainability into core business education and operations.
The partnership underpinning the Lab was formally cemented with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Faculty of Business and Law, represented by the Dean, Prof. Jenny Phillips, and Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, represented by the General Manager, Mr. Rutger Verschuren. Artyzen was the first sponsor of the initiative to support the USJ’s academic and industry cross-discussions. The MoU signing signifies the importance of industry-academia partnerships in promoting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) goals between organizations with similar values.
[Signing of MOU by the Faculty of Business and Law, USJ and Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau | Photo caption from left to right: Prof. Jenny Phillips, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, USJ and Mr. Rutger Verschuren, Area Vice President of Macau and Hengqin of Artyzen Hospitality Group and General Manager of Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau]
[Inauguration of the Sustainable Business Lab | Photo caption from left to right: (1) Prof. Jenny Phillips, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, USJ, (2) Mr. Rutger Verschuren, General Manager of Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, (3) Ms. Florence Ian, Founder and President of Executive Board of TODA, (4) Mr. António Trindade. President and CEO of Macau’s CESL Asia, and (5) Prof. Dr. Weng Chi Lei, Coordinator for the Sustainable Business Lab]
Immediately following the ceremonies, the industry roundtable, “Employee Wellbeing in the Hospitality Industry”, moderated by Prof. Dr. Weng Chi Lei, convened leading experts:
- Dr. Yhing Sawheny, Senior Lecturer and Director of International Affairs at Siam University, Thailand, detailed a transformative shift towards sustainable hospitality through green innovation.
- Dr. Leanda Care, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, USJ, highlighted how social well-being and trusting workplace relationships create efficient, resilient teams.
- Garbi Chan, Director of Occupational Safety and Health Department, SJM Resorts, advocated for a proactive strategy integrating safety and health into a holistic employee wellbeing ecosystem.
This dialogue sets a forward-looking agenda for the Lab, uniting academia and industry leaders to tackle pressing sustainability and social challenges.
[Dr. Leanda Care, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, USJ]
[Dr. Yhing Sawheny, Senior Lecturer and Director of International Affairs at Siam University, Thailand]
[Garbi Chan, Director, Head of Occupational Safety and Health Department, SJM Resorts]
[Industry Roundtable | Photo caption from left to right: (1) Garbi Chan, Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Department, SJM Resorts, (2) Dr. Yhing Sawheny, Senior Lecturer and Director of International Affairs at Siam University, Thailand, (3) Dr. Leanda Care, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, USJ, and (4) Prof. Weng Chi Lei, Coordinator for the Sustainable Business Lab]
About the Organizer – Sustainable Business Lab
Started in 2023, the Faculty of Business and Law’s Sustainable Business Series aims to promote research and awareness in businesses, such as social solutions, green finance, business sustainability and health and well-being in business. It is a series of academic activities, including public lectures, seminars, research and publications, and industry roundtables/discussions. The establishment of the Sustainable Business Lab (SBL) in 2025 further concretises the effort of the sustainable business project. Research of the SBL focuses on Business as a Social Solution. Over the years, members of the FBL and their international research collaborators have concrete publications in the areas of social entrepreneurship and sustainability. The viewpoint of businesses as social solutions has also been integrated into the faculty’s BBA and MBA programmes. The FBL has been encouraging MBA, MCD and DBA students in the pursuit of social entrepreneurship and CSR research and projects.
About the Event Sponsor – Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau
Set in the heart of Macau, near stunning UNESCO world heritage sites, upscale lifestyle hotel Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau offers a window into the city’s culturally rich heritage. The name “Grand Lapa” draws inspiration from the prestigious neighbourhoods of Lapa in Lisbon where celebrities reside and as a truly homegrown brand, the hotel celebrates Macau’s remarkable heritage. Discover fascinating tales of Macau’s vibrant past through the art, culture, cuisine and architecture at our resort. Encounter a replica of the Window of Tomar from Portugal and curated works of art by a local Macanese artisan. Dine on innovative culinary dishes at our restaurants serving Portuguese, Macanese, Chinese, and Thai cuisines, and savour eclectic cocktails at our bar. Listen to captivating stories from our hoteliers and enjoy an authentic Macau experience all throughout your journey.
