The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) said in a statement yesterday that the learning achievements of 24 incarcerated individuals who completed their courses in the 2024/2025 academic year through the Catholic private tertiary education institution’s Prison Outreach Programme were recognised during a recent ceremony.
The programme, according to the USJ website, offers “incarcerated individuals the opportunity to further their education and improve employment opportunities post-release”, with the statement noting that it has benefitted a total of 69 incarcerated individuals since its inception.
The statement said that the recent ceremony, held by the Correctional Services Bureau (DSC), saw 19 inmates awarded certificates. Moreover, Prison Director Lam Kam Sau, and the chief of the Social Assistance, Education and Training Division, Ho Sio Mei, presented them with the “Correctional Services Foundation Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement” for their dedication and academic excellence.
The recent ceremony was attended by representatives from USJ and the Correctional Services Bureau, among others.
The statement said that USJ Rector Prof. Stephen Morgan “expressed his vision for expanding the programme further, offering more diverse subjects from other majors to facilitate continual self-improvement and seamless societal reintegration for the incarcerated population”.
He also called upon other philanthropic entities to collaborate in supporting the initiative while USJ is prepared to provide scholarships and fellowships.
This undated, partly pixelated photo provided by the private University of Saint Joseph (USJ) yesterday shows officials, guests and attendees posing for a group photo on the sidelines of the Certificate Award Ceremony at Coloane Prison recently held by the Correctional Services Bureau (DSC).
