• USJ’s Faculty of Business and Law launched the Sustainable Business Lab to advance sustainable business practices.
• USJ and Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau signed an MoU to strengthen industry-academia collaboration for sustainable development goals.

The Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Saint Joseph, Macao (USJ) officially inaugurated its Sustainable Business Lab on 28 November at Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau. This forward-thinking initiative aims to shape the future of sustainable business practices by fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

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 Area Vice President – Macau Operations, Rutger Verschuren. Artyzen was the first sponsor of the initiative to support the university’s academic and industry cross-discussions.

The MoU signing signifies the importance of industry-academia partnerships in promoting the achievement of the SDGs (sustainable development goals) between organizations with similar values.

The industry roundtable, “Employee Wellbeing in the Hospitality Industry” – moderated by Prof Weng Chi Lei – convened leading experts such as Dr Yhing Sawheny, Senior Lecturer and Director of International Affairs at Siam University, Thailand, who 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.

And 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.

Supported by key partners Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, the International Tourism Professionals Development Association in Macao (TODA) and consultancy CESL Asia, the Lab serves as a dynamic platform for innovation, experiential learning and the integration of sustainability into the core of business education and operations.