The Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and NOVA's Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT NOVA) have signed a protocol for the implementation of a new UNESCO International Reference Center for research and advanced training. The center, located at IHMT NOVA, was signed under the “Knowledge for Development Initiative - IkfD” and aims to train 80 new doctors per year from Portuguese-speaking African countries.
The objective is to create the Center for “Science LP - International Center for Advanced Training in Fundamental Sciences of Scientists from Portuguese-speaking Countries” to develop high-level scientific capacities in Lusophone countries, to transfer regional and international knowledge, to contribute to research and teaching, covering areas such as health, biomedical sciences, but also engineering, environment, biodiversity, among others.
The ceremony, which took place at the amphitheater of the centenary institute of IHMT NOVA, was attended by the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor and the Angolan Minister responsible for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Maria do Rosário Sambo.
The Rector of NOVA, Prof. João Sàágua, who was also present, welcomed the new center, describing it as one of the «fundamental factors of progress on a global scale», stressing the importance of establishing strategic partnerships in order to achieve objectives that serve «global society and the Portuguese-speaking Africans with the best and most relevant knowledge available in our institutions».
The ceremony was also marked by the signing of memorandums of understanding between NOVA University and the Universities of Katyavala Bwila (Benguela) and José Eduardo dos Santos (Huambo), represented by the rectors Albano Ferreira and Cristóvão Simões, respectively.
Read the full story on the IHMT NOVA website.