University of Coimbra strengthens ties with Cape Verde

The University of Coimbra (UC) and the Cape Verdean Football Federation (FCF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 9th December in the city of Praia. The document was signed by the UC Vice-Rector for External Relations and Alumni, João Nuno Calvão da Silva, the FCF President, Mário Mendes dos Reis Semedo, and the FCF First Vice President, Inácio dos Santos Carvalho.

The MoU reflects the mutual agreement between the institutions to establish academic, scientific and cultural cooperation, particularly in creating an FCF Sports Academy. The Academy was presented to the public on the same day with a keynote speech by Hugo Sarmento, Deputy Director of the UC Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education.

The institutional visit also included working meetings with the University of Cape Verde and the signing of a cooperation agreement between UC and the Higher Institute of Legal and Social Sciences (ISCJS). During the visit, the Vice-Rector, João Nuno Calvão da Silva, gave a lecture on "Democracy: Risks and Challenges in the Modern World".

The UC delegation visit to Cape Verde also included an Alumni Dinner attended by some 90 UC alumni, including the President of the Republic, José Maria Neves; the former President of the Republic, Jorge Carlos Fonseca; the Secretary of State for Higher Education, Eurídice Monteiro; the Secretary of State for the Digital Economy, Pedro Lopes; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Miryan Vieira; the former Minister of Justice, David Hopffer Almada; the Rector of the University of Cape Verde, José Arlindo Barreiro; the President of the Olympic Academy, Orlando Mascarenhas; the General Inspector of Labour, Anildo Fortes; and the Secretary General of the National Assembly, Angelino Coelho, among others.