Bridging the gap between technology and humanity — The University of Saint Joseph
Finding creative solutions and innovative ways of addressing human needs has never been more urgent in today’s ever-changing world of emerging technologies and challenges unique to multicultural societies.
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macao offers students a rich multidisciplinary environment that integrates the arts and humanities with technology. Beyond a traditional survey of theoretical frameworks, the Faculty focuses students on adapting advanced technologies to meet contemporary challenges to human interaction and flourishing.
“We use technology as a key factor in lots of opportunities for our students. We don’t want technology to take the lead. I believe humanity is to take the lead. Technology is fundamental and we want to embrace it and we want students to feel comfortable with that because that’s a big part of the future,” explained Gerald Estadieu, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Head of the Department of Creative Industries at the University of Saint Joseph.
The Faculty offers degrees in four areas of study: media arts and technology, architecture and design, history and heritage, and languages and culture. At the intersection of technology and the humanities, students have access to exceptional educational opportunities, developing a sense of ethics and integrity while learning to think critically and creatively. Students learn to value culture, human engagement and collaboration through the lens of modern technology and vice versa, enabling themselves to go beyond proficiency and master their discipline.
“We really believe in two things: the humanistic approach of our programmes as well as the integration of technology,” said Estadieu, “especially in creative industries, we integrate technology to allow our students to be more versatile and more creative,” he added.
The curriculum is where the Faculty really demonstrates its dedication to the integration of technology
and humanity. Digital fabrication is a foundational module for all firstyear students studying for their bachelor’s in design, architecture,
or fashion design. In the following year, students take a module on computer programming. Other modules available include 3D printing and laser cutting. Master’sdegree modules are all technology and design-related as well, according to Estadieu.
“It’s not integrating technology for the sake of it but because integrating technology will provide a better solution for humans,” Estadieu noted. “We like the combination of the digital and the physical and how they help each other to become more efficient for human beings,” he added.
While a focus on the digital world is common across higher education institutions, bridging the gap between the digital and the tangible world is more challenging, Estadieu said, “If we want to solve real human problems, our work has to be tangible most of the time.” Differing
from comparable programmes designed according to conventional understandings of academic disciplines, “we are doing it differently because the integration is a clear goal for us,” said Estadieu.
Technology is not only rooted in USJ’s Department of Creative Industries, it also permeates the study of human languages at USJ. In the Department of Languages and Culture, also in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, computer-aided translation and artificial translation are among the compulsory courses for all students with ample handson software and technical practice. “Machine translation and translation plus technology are new tendencies in this area, so instead of a traditional curriculum that focuses on translation theory and practice, we provide a more dynamic learning experience to students,” said Lidia Zhou, senior lecturer and Head of the Department of Languages and Culture. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on technologies and applied knowledge of professional and practical importance, ensuring that students are updated wherever and whenever appropriate. “After they graduate, whether they want to pursue further studies or head straight into the industry to be a translator or interpreter, the skills combining technology and translation benefit them in both ways,” Zhou said.
Acknowledging that the use of technology in translation has never been more relevant and the process more efficient as it is today, Zhou said she still believes human translation is essential. “Google translation is more accurate than before, but in reality, one of the beauties of languages lies in its context — when you put it into different contexts, it means different things,” she added. Referring to automated and human translation, she said, “They have to be friends.”
In addition to the integrated approach to language learning, the combined Macanese and Portuguese roots of the university and the city itself make it particularly suited for students who want to immerse themselves in a holistic Portuguesespeaking environment. “We are a multilingual campus, and the environment we provide is unique compared to other higher education institutions in the region,” Zhou said. She added that 90 percent of the teaching employees of the Portuguese-language courses are native Portuguese speakers. “We also have visiting scholars working in local government as translators or interpreters to share practical experiences and up-to-date knowledge to help our students adjust to professional work quickly after graduation,” Zhou said.
Inheriting a Macanese tradition of education that reaches back to
the founding of St. Paul’s College in 1594, the University of Saint Joseph is a high-quality institution and one of the four comprehensive universities in Macao that offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and qualifications. USJ stands out for its internationalization, diversity, passion for excellence, and care for the all-round development of students. According to current enrollment figures, the students at USJ are from 47 different countries or regions, and the number of nonChinese students account for nearly 32 percent of the student population, the highest among Macao’s higher education institutions. Rooted in Macao, the university offers its students a harmonious and free environment for their pursuit of truth and the common good in service of humanity, the Chinese people, and Macao’s own multicultural society.