Luanda – Angolan minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESCTI), Maria do Rosário Bragança, has stressed the need for Angola and Mozambique to strengthen cooperation, particularly between the two countries' higher education institutions, with the aim to better exchange knowledge and scientific research.
The Angolan minister said she hopes the cooperation between the two countries will be strengthened both in the education sector, funding training programmes and research projects, evaluation and accreditation of higher education institutions.
The minister made the statement at the end of the International Conference celebrating 60 years of Higher Education in Angola and Mozambique, held over three days in the city of Maputo.
"We need this collaboration to be done through joint training and scientific research projects and, eventually, biannual events of this nature in each of the countries, in order to disseminate and promote them", the minister said.
The minister added that the Angolan President has expressed determination to continue investing and creating decent conditions for players of the higher education subsystem to have better working conditions and benefit from cooperation programmes.
He emphasized that the Government of Angola is committed to building a strong Higher Education Subsystem, based on the principles of the role of the State as rector, of the autonomy of the Higher Education Institutions, academic freedom, democratic management, quality of services, financial responsibility of the State and of the Families, and the balance of the network of higher education institutions.
"We are aware of how much has been done so far and what still needs to be done, particularly in the consolidation of the higher education subsystem, with emphasis on the implementation of evaluation and accreditation of courses, programmes, and higher education institutions", Ms Bragança said.
The minister seized the opportunity to congratulated the government of Mozambique, in particular the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education for the fortunate initiative of inviting Angola to co-organize the conference, which turned out to be a very interesting regarding the premises, bases, processes, and the development of the constitution of Higher Education in the two countries.
The three-day event analyzed, discussed and clarified historical facts, social and scientific aspects of the evolution of higher education of the two countries.
