Government of Timor-Leste

The Statute that is being developed for the Timor Lorosa’e National University (Portuguese acronym UNTL) particularly defines finance, functioning and administration issues, those intended for the State University, in the future.

Another question approached by the diploma is the UNTL academic autonomy and the respective teaching staff.” We know that, nowadays, the University only has conditions to practice teaching and learning functions. If we talk about its capacity to do scientific investigation, book and newspaper publications at an international level, this still doesn’t exist. Having conscience of this limitation, the Government is committed to do the necessary medium term investments”, states the Minister of Education, João Câncio Freitas.

Another Government objective, expressed in the Statute that is being developed, is that, within the next two to three years, the UNTL consolidates the courses that it currently runs, specially the courses that have a higher relevance for the country’s development. In a first phase, the objective is to make the graduate courses more consistent so that the University can have the capacity of also offering courses at a Master and PhD level. Not having that capacity in Timor-Leste, the Government is giving scholarships for students so they can acquire these skills abroad.

Besides the additional cost for the State, the Minister of Education considers that this measure also brings another problem: “the best students, after finishing their degree abroad, don’t came back because they are absorbed by the countries where they study”. Because of that, João Câncio Freitas concludes: “we want the UNTL – as the State University, with the resources made available by the State – to create that capacity. So that in a few years, our youth, our future leaders, may continue their studies in Timor-Leste, not only at the degree level but also at the master and PhD level.”