DILI, may 24, 2021 (TATOLI) – The National University Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) holds its first online graduation course for 251 finalist students today held at INFORDEPE Hall, Balide Dili.
The first online graduation course at UNTL was attended by 251 graduates, out of a total of 633 enrolled. 94 from the Department of Medicine, Health and Sciences, 71 from the Department of Education, Arts and Humanities, 35 from the Social Sciences Department, 34 from the Department of Engineering, Sciences and Technology, and 17 from the Department of Economics and Management.
At the ceremony, the University Chairman, João Soares Martins, challenged the new graduates, to create a job for themselves and for others instead of looking for jobs.
“You are the future of this great nation. Commit to the present and the future of our country. Be agents of change for the better. Have a sense of your responsibility for future generations and Timor-Leste ”, Mr. Martins’s speech at the 24th UNTL Graduation Ceremony.
According to Martins, the university reaches an important milestone in the history of higher education in Timor-Leste with the first online graduation ceremony in the country. Its general theme was “Graduation in Family: The seeds released from UNTL will be produced qualified fruits and strong supporters of the country ”.
He added that “Graduation in Family” took place in the homes of the finalists and constituted a special moment in the family, in the house itself.
“Your parents today assumed the responsibility of the Rector of UNTL when changing your graduation ribbons. This is, in fact, a familiar and cordial moment that had never happened before. As sons and daughters of this nation, you are called, from today, to share, to give your energy, knowledge, and skills to leverage our country and guarantee its sustainability”, he said.
The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture (MESCC), Longuinhos dos Santos, today congratulated the structure of UNTL and the students for carrying out the online graduation for the finalists of the year 2020.
“I want to point out that this ceremony is the first graduation of students to be held online, due to the covid-19 pandemic. This new reality requires the Government, public and private institutions to find the mechanisms of online graduation and to adapt to it”, said Longuinhos dos Santos.
The covid-19 pandemic has had a huge negative impact on the functioning of institutions and the priorities of governments around the world.
“To control the health crisis and prevent the spread of the virus, the country has been forced to declare a state of emergency since March 2020”, he recalled.
Mr. Santos also stressed that sanitary fences and mandatory confinement were also declared in several municipalities, which have limited the movement of people and the functioning of the institutions.
“The fight against the covid-19 pandemic is still in process and we are implementing several measures to contain the spread of the virus. I also take the opportunity to greet and congratulate all graduated students”, he concluded.
The UNTL graduate in Basic General Medicine, Nívia de Pina Sarmento Seran, said that graduation represents the end of the learning process and a new stage in professional life.
Journalist: Nelia Fernandes
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
