SDG 10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES

ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUALITY

Our policies on Admission, Non-discrimination and Anti-harassment, ensure equal access and prevent discrimination based on age, physical ability, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, ethnicity, religious affiliation, or political persuasion. Obtaining a higher education degree is important for breaking cycles of exclusion, and USJ is committed to providing students with a diverse culture and environment. The Equality and Diversity Policy (last reviewed in November 2024) applies to all students and staff at USJ. Point 2 of this policy confirms that USJ recognises that all people are equal in dignity and, as such, should be respected. No one, therefore, should be favoured or discriminated against because of age, physical ability, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, ethnicity, religious affiliation, or political persuasion.

For students in our care, we provide a wide range of support measures to meet the financial, housing, academic, and counselling needs of students from underrepresented groups, as well as students with special needs. USJ promotes equal access to education and work for people with disabilities in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, 0.22% of our student body has a disability. We continue to implement a more accessible and equitable learning environment for students with disabilities. Employees with disabilities represent 0.54% of the total workforce (FTE). USJ has, and continues to welcome, staff with special needs. In the same academic year, we maintained student enrollment from developing countries. Our student population from developing countries rose to 12% this year (a 1% year-on-year increase), further strengthening our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

REDUCING INEQUALITY THROUGH EDUCATION

Our educational outreach programme for prison inmates, running since 2009, has been allowing incarcerated individuals access to higher education and contributing to their reintegration into society. In the 2024-2025 academic year, we continued to empower incarcerated individuals through education (USJ Prison Outreach Programme). 30 incarcerated students benefited, with 24 completing their courses and 19 receiving certificates. This demonstrates our long-term commitment to social justice and community reintegration. We also received Funding for the Prison Outreach Programme Scholarships and Fellowships. Through the donation from the International Ladies Club of Macau (ILCM), we are able to support educational opportunities for prisoners. This reinforced our commitment to humanitarian and academic mission.

To strengthen inclusive support services for minority groups, we delivered mental health and drug prevention workshops for minorities during the 2024-2025 academic year. The audience included adults from minority communities in Macao (Filipino, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Myanmar). The talk provided improved access to mental health resources.