Universidade Católica Portuguesa signs protocol with the youngest Catholic University in the world: the Catholic University of St. John Paul II

The Universidade Católica Portuguesa signed this Thursday, March 2, a protocol of cooperation with the Catholic University of St. John Paul II (UCT), created just two years ago in Timor-Leste, making it the youngest Catholic university in the world.

"We are here to grow together," said Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, on the occasion, recalling that "the University has been collaborating with Timor-Leste since its independence, through the training of Portuguese teachers, an initiative led by Peter Stilwell, and the admission of Timorese students". Now, with the signing of this protocol, "we will continue this collaboration in a more structured way", the President concluded.

As President of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC), Isabel Capeloa Gil stated that it is "a pleasure for the Timorese university to be part of the Federation", and encouraged the submission of a membership application, which will be "supported by the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, through a letter of recommendation.

Following the signing of the MoU, the Rector of the Timorese Catholic University, Friar Joel Casimiro Pinto, thanked the "Universidade Católica Portuguesa for its collaboration in this effort to serve humanity", and recalled that the Timorese university, "is not just another university. It is the Catholic University."

The Rector, who visited Universidade Católica Portuguesa accompanied by the Pro-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, João Câncio Freitas, also pointed out that this Timorese institution "is committed to quality education, with Portuguese and English as official languages".

The Catholic University of St. John Paul II (UCT) was established on December 8, 2021, is located in Dili and has 4 faculties: Medical Sciences (FCM); Agricultural Engineering (FEA); Education, Languages and Arts (FELA) and Human Sciences (FCH).

 

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