Timor-Leste, Australia and Indonesia hold a meeting on higher education
The Ministry of Education organized a meeting with the representatives for higher education of neighbour countries, specifically with Charles Darwin University, from Australia, Udayana Bali University from Indonesia and National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), from Timor-Leste. This meeting, which took place in Dili, on May 5th, aimed to strengthen the development of higher education at regional and sub-regional level.
In his speech, the Minister of Education, Bendito Freitas, referred that university’s role is not limited to teaching scientific values, but has also the role of developing the critical thinking of citizens, enable them to investigate, and to deepen, the needs felt at a regional level in terms of economic development, human development, interdependence of people and information technology.
“Science and technology play a very important role in the world, but strengthening information does not imply losing their human side. Therefore, the citizen in general is aware of his actual, geographical, political, and cultural realities. I hope that the experts at his meeting may contribute with a few investigation concepts in universities at sub regional level”, referred the Minister.
On the other hand, the Rector of UNTL, Aurélio Guterres, saw on this meeting the possibility of implementing, in future, cooperation with Australia and Indonesia, especially on what concerns to peace and stability at sub regional level.
“Some students are, in this moment, doing research and, in future, there might be a possibility for students from Timor-Leste, Australia e Indonesia to direct a joint activity on peace, stability and citizenship. UNTL is ready”, highlighted Aurélio Guterres.
Also present in this bilateral were PhD Muhammad Najib Azcan, Associate Dean for Research and Community Service Affairs, and other representatives from the University of Gadjah Mada and Satya Wacana from Yogyakarta, who shared their experiences on the challenges faced at the region, on what concerns the development of the universities in the three countries at sub regional level.
