With the aim of fostering and strengthening the future between China, Portugal and Portuguese-speaking countries through the Macao-Lisbon axis, focusing on the new generations, the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) and Casa Pia de Lisboa signed an agreement to develop academic, research, technical and cultural cooperation projects and, in particular, to find solutions for Casa Pia students to pursue their academic studies at the University of Saint Joseph in Macao.

Casa Pia de Lisboa is Portugal’s largest and most important educational institution for socially disadvantaged children and young people. Since its foundation by Queen Maria I in 1780, somewhat as a response to the social disarray following the earthquake of 1755, Casa Pia de Lisboa’s mission has been to provide education, training and care.

The organisation consists of ten schools and enrols around 3,000 students. In addition to regular schooling, the organisation also provides boarding for 200 underprivileged children.

It aims to enable these young people to become healthy and successful members of society by developing intellectual, manual and physical skills in an environment that promotes spiritual, moral and religious values. The institution is proud to have had many prominent Portuguese personalities among its students, including politicians, journalists, businessmen and artists.

Casa Pia is a public institution under the management of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (Ministério do Trabalho, Solidariedade e Segurança Social).

The agreement was signed on 19th December 2024 at the Centro Cultural Casapiano by the President of Casa Pia, Dra Fátima Matos and Professor Álvaro Barbosa, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Academic Affairs of the University of Saint Joseph.

University of Saint Joseph (USJ)