DILI, 29 August 2025 (TATOLI) – President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, has awarded the Medal of Merit and Certificate of Recognition to seven Brazilian academics in honor of their tireless work and significant contributions to national development in Timor-Leste and beyond.
Representing the President of the Republic, Director-General of the Presidency, Aida Maria dos Santos – appointed under Presidential Decree No. 86/2025 –presided over the ceremony held at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace.
The following Brazilian academics were honored under Presidential Decree No. 87/2025:
- Prof. Dr.ª Kelly Silva (University of Brasília – UnB)
- Prof. Dr. Daniel Schroeter Simião (University of Brasília – UnB)
- Prof. Dr.ª Suzani Cassiani (Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC)
- Prof. Dr. Irlan von Linsingen (Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC)
- Prof. Dr.ª Patrícia Montanari Giraldi (Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC)
- Prof. Dr.ª Regina Helena Pires de Brito (Mackenzie Presbyterian University – UPM)
- Prof. Dr. Marco Tullio de Castro Vasconcelos (Mackenzie Presbyterian University – UPM)
These distinguished academics represent a longstanding tradition of academic partnership between Timor-Leste and Brazil. Through their respective institutions –UPM, UFSC, and UnB –they have played a vital role in strengthening Timor-Leste’s higher education sector.
Highlights of the Partnerships:
- Mackenzie Presbyterian University (UPM): Since 2001, UPM has collaborated with UNTL to promote Portuguese language education through literacy initiatives, faculty training, and material development. This 23-year partnership, led by Prof. Regina Pires Brito, culminated in the DINTER doctoral program in Letters. In 2024, thirteen UNTL lecturers earned their doctorates, formally conferred by UPM Rector Prof. Marco Tullio de Castro Vasconcelos.
- Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC): The UFSC–UNTL partnership has enabled the exchange of dozens of professors and students. Notable initiatives include the Teacher Qualification and Portuguese Language Teaching Program (2009–2016) and an ongoing technical cooperation project –coordinated by Prof. Suzani Cassiani and funded by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) –to implement a Master’s in Education.
- University of Brasília (UnB): Since 2010, UnB has partnered with UNTL to train faculty in teaching and research within the Social Sciences. Under the leadership of anthropologists Kelly Silva and Daniel Simião, the collaboration has fostered research exchanges, critical bibliographic production, and public policy proposals in education, gender equality, and economic development.
President Ramos-Horta stated, “The services provided by these esteemed academics deserve to be recognized and valued by the State. Timor-Leste has managed to overcome various challenges and achieve notable successes in development, thanks in part to the efforts of our foreign friends.”
He extended the nation’s deepest gratitude to the Brazilian academics for their crucial role in Timor-Leste’s ongoing development journey. Their contributions –both within Timor-Leste and from abroad –have profoundly benefited the Timorese people and strengthened the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
Editor : Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
