The answer is on the tip of the tongue for Professor Pedro Lourtie: 1989 was the year, as far as he knows, when Técnico began its cooperation with PALOP coutries (African Coun- tries with Portuguese as the Official Language); the first step in that direc- tion was its relationship with Angola. “Agostinho Neto University’s Faculty of Engineering was struggling to fin- ish the design of a computer science course and requested assistance from Técnico… from then on, we started collaborating regularly. We support- ed some courses, in various ways, and there were even cases in which the students – because there were only a few – came here to take some classes.”
“I started to travel often to An- gola, and Técnico eventually estab- lished various protocols: one of these, agreed upon in 1995 with Total, pro- vided that the oil company’s grant recipients would come to study here, where they were more at ease with the language, instead of doing their studies at the Oil Institute in France”, explains the professor who, from that moment on, became one of the most important actors in the relationship between Portugal and the PALOP countries in the areas of science and education.
Before that, back in 1991, Cape Verde also came forward and asked the Portuguese government assis- tance in creating engineering cours- es. Again, it was Professor Pedro Lourtie who was in charge of that project, and since then he continued to treat the African archipelago as a second home. “In everything I did, I always had the support of Técnico, which is why the school ended up be- ing very involved in this process,” he explains.
And he did a lot. First, he helped creating the Public University of Cape Verde – in 2000, for example, there were only 700 students attending higher education in the country; to- day, there are 14,000. But that’s not all – he also contributed to the crea- tion of two Master’s degree programs at Mindelo, as well as to the develop- ment of the Higher Education Bill. “In Cape Verde, there is a major ef- fort to develop training in the areas of engineering, health, and biology… so we have opportunities to achieve many accomplishments in these are- as, which are precisely those in which Técnico works,” recalls the former General Director of Higher Educa- tion in Portugal. But one should take note of the differences from country to country. “In Angola there has been a great effort, though fick- le, to develop research and innova- tion, but in Mozambique, for exam- ple, research is totally incipient.”
Taking these differences into ac- count, Pedro Lourtie considers that Técnico has much to gain by taking a more aggressive approach towards these countries, since that would enable them to secure “a role in the development of the country and the institutions” in which they are in- volved.
“The goal of all this, and that’s why I always highlight the fact that my work represents Técnico – this is my home, and it has been so for 42 years – is to ensure the interna- tional recognition of the institution. It sets a standard and a good practice within other countries. It is to “set a benchmark” within other countries, because the more Técnico can assert itself, the greater the pride of each of its students. It is a long-term invest- ment that is very worthwhile.”
Testimonials
Telma Andrade Silva,
University of Cape Verde
“I have been teaching at Uni-CV for over five years and have studied at Técnico since September 2011, where I am completing my PhD in Math- ematics. I chose this School because it is one of the finest institutions of higher education in Portugal, and one where the PhD program is complete. Presently, Técnico has accepted, in many areas, teachers from the Uni- versity of Cape Verde to do their doc- torates. Both institutions maintain good relations and have benefited greatly from the cooperation agree- ment between Portugal and Cape Verde.”
Jone Heitor,
PhD in Mechanical Engineering, IST Professor at Agostinho Neto Univer- sity, Angola
“Técnico continues to be a reference in Angola, and the relationship be- tween the School and the Faculty of Engineering of the Agostinho Neto University is good: at the moment there is a General Cooperation Agree- ment, and we are strengthening the ties that have already been estab- lished between our institutions. On a personal level, my experience at Téc- nico was very good: in addition to the scientific and educational contacts, the school opened doors and did a lot for me. I am very grateful to it. “
