Angola and Guinea-Bissau to Host Lusophone Education Summits
Angola and Guinea-Bissau have been chosen to host the upcoming 2026 and 2027 editions of the Higher Education Management Forum in Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Regions (Forges), the organization’s president announced Tuesday in Macao.
Margarida Mano, president of Forges and former Portuguese Minister of Education, revealed that the University of Luanda will host the 2026 annual meeting in Angola. The following year, the gathering will move to Guinea-Bissau, under the coordination of the Lusophone University of Guinea-Bissau. These announcements follow the confirmation that the 2025 conference will take place in East Timor.
A Growing Global Network
The 14th edition of the conference is currently underway in Macao, drawing 170 participants from across eight Portuguese-speaking nations and regions. Over a three-day period, 116 academic presentations will be delivered across 24 dedicated sessions. Supported by the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), the event serves as a vital bridge for academic cooperation across three continents.
In a gesture of “international solidarity,” Mano announced that Forges waived registration fees for all universities and polytechnics from the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The region was devastated by catastrophic flooding in April and May, which claimed 182 lives and displaced thousands. Despite the tragedy, nine institutions from the state are represented in Macao, contributing 30 presentations to the conference.
Macao: A Hub for Lusophone Exchange
This year marks the third time the Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) has hosted the event, following successful stints in 2012 and 2021. Rector Marcus Im Sio Kei emphasized MPU’s commitment to deepening ties with the Lusophone academic world through faculty exchanges and joint research initiatives.
Academic Success Through Innovation
- Joint Degree Programs: In a landmark collaboration, MPU and the University of Coimbra recently launched a dual doctorate in information technology. According to Coimbra Rector Amílcar Falcão, the program already hosts 18 students from both Portugal and China.
- Strategic Research: MPU maintains a scientific research agreement with Forges, which represents 78 higher education institutions worldwide.
- Regional Development: The partnership aims to bolster the Alliance for Portuguese Language Teaching within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, positioning Macao as a central gateway for Lusophone educational development in Asia.
Looking ahead, the 15th conference in East Timor will be jointly organized by the National University of Timor Lorosa’e, the Catholic University of Timor St. John Paul II, and the University of Dili, continuing the forum’s mission to rotate through the diverse landscapes of the Portuguese-speaking community.
Image: Pexels – Nothing Ahead
