Angola’s Agostinho Neto University (UAN) and Xiangtan University, in China’s Hunan Province, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Luanda on 23 September to strengthen professional training, scientific research and academic mobility. The agreement provides short-, medium- and long-term training opportunities for students and academic staff at both institutions.

Angolan students will be able to pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at the Chinese university. The co-operation will also enable Chinese students and researchers interested in studying relations between the two countries to travel to Angola.

During the visit, the Chinese delegation was received by Dionísio da Fonseca, Minister of State and Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic. Edson Barreto, Director of the President’s Office for Human Resources, highlighted Xiangtan University’s scientific potential and the work of its research centre dedicated to China-Africa relations.

Xiangtan University Rector Liao Yong’an expressed interest in deepening exchanges with Angolan institutions and learning about the training needs of Chinese companies operating in the country.

For his part, Angola’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Albano Ferreira, proposed extending co-operation to other Angolan universities and polytechnic institutes. He identified strengthening academic staff and establishing dual-degree programmes as potential areas for future co-operation, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

(Source: Jornal de Angola, 23 September)