The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) hosted its International Cultural Carnival on Saturday, transforming the Ilha Verde Campus into a vibrant gathering of cultures from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Organised by students and staff representing more than 50 nationalities, the event offered the public a glimpse into the university’s multicultural community.
The afternoon kicked off with a grand parade, as students and staff carrying their national flags wound through the campus courtyard. What followed was an immersive journey across continents without ever leaving Macau.
Visitors wandered among over 30 stalls offering food, games, and cultural activities from regions and countries including the Chinese mainland, Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), Guinea-Bissau, Myanmar, Mozambique, the Philippines Portugal, Russia South Korea and Timor-Leste (East Timor). Attendees were able to sample dishes from around the world, all prepared by members of the USJ community.
The stage programme kept energy high throughout the afternoon. Performances included lion dancing by the Zhuhai City Polytechnic, a Myanmar traditional dance, an African fashion show, and musical sets from the USJ Music Club, Brazilian singer Jandira Silva, and student bands. A band from Our Lady of Fátima Girls’ School and USJ’s own “The 853” closed out the performances.
Meanwhile, an installation titled “Guardians of the Mangroves” transformed the university library into an immersive mangrove reading room. A collaboration between the USJ Institute of Science and Environment and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the exhibits used AI and 3D printing to turn genetic sequences from local mangrove forests into tactile art.
For prospective students, academic information booths provided face-to-face conversations with professors about programmes and scholarships. Those who applied on-site received a full waiver of the application fee.
The atmosphere was lively and welcoming. Visitors painted their faces, families sampled unfamiliar dishes, students shared a laugh with friends, and solo visitors struck up conversations with strangers, all the while keeping cultural immersion among its aims.
Crowds explore booths during the on-campus University of Saint Joseph’s (USJ) International Cultural Carnival in Ilha Verde on Saturday. – Photos: Kristina Vallesteros
