Portuguese universities have welcomed 351 new Mozambican students in the current academic year, bringing the total number of Mozambican nationals enrolled in higher education in Portugal to around 1,600. The figure was revealed by Portugal’s ambassador to Mozambique, Jorge Monteiro, during a farewell ceremony for 18 Camões Institute scholarship recipients, held this week, according to Lusa.
According to the diplomat, over 520 applications were submitted by Mozambican students in this admission cycle, with 351 successfully placed in various Portuguese higher education institutions across multiple fields of study.
Currently, about 200 Mozambican students studying in Portugal are recipients of scholarships awarded by public entities, distributed across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs — including in police and military sciences. The ambassador highlighted that this cooperation represents a direct investment in the training of qualified human capital and strengthens the historical and cultural ties between the two nations.
The group of 18 Camões Institute scholars was highlighted as an example of this strategic partnership. Two of the students have already arrived in Portugal, while the others are expected to travel in the coming days to universities in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Aveiro, Braga, and Faro, where they will pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees in various scientific fields.
Under the bilateral cooperation program, Mozambique has prioritized Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) areas for scholarship allocation, aiming to meet the country’s structural development needs.
“These are technical fields that are essential to Mozambique’s development — to any society’s development,” said Jorge Monteiro.
During the ceremony, Carla Caomba, Director-General of the National Scholarship Institute (INABE), reaffirmed the importance of the initiative for the training of highly qualified professionals.
“This departure marks an important step toward realizing dreams and consolidating life projects,” she said, adding that Mozambican students have stood out not only for their academic excellence but also for their adaptability and contribution in diverse university environments.
Source: Diário Económico
