UniCV to Launch Island-Specific Courses in Cape Verde
The University of Cape Verde (UniCV) is shifting its academic strategy to better serve the nation’s diverse geography. Rector Astrigilda Silveira announced that the institution is developing specialized courses tailored to the unique economic and social needs of each island in the archipelago.
Speaking to Lusa regarding the start of the academic year, Silveira emphasized that the university is moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” model. Instead, UniCV is partnering with municipalities and international entities to create educational tracks that align with regional development goals.
Targeted Training for Local Industries
The island of Fogo serves as a primary example of this new localized approach. Following discussions with the mayor of São Filipe and partners in Viseu, Portugal, the university identified critical gaps in the local labor market. Rather than offering generic degrees, UniCV plans to launch professional higher education courses and postgraduate studies focused on viticulture and fruit growing.
“We must have a territorial impact,” Silveira stated. “For example, on Fogo, we can work in partnership with the City Council to utilize the wine laboratory. We have specialists; there is no reason our producers should have to go abroad for testing. The University of Cape Verde exists to fill that role.”
Cultural and Digital Expansion
The strategy extends to other regions as well. In São Vicente and across the Barlavento islands, the university has identified a high demand for training in cinema, theater, and music. Partnerships are already being formed to implement both undergraduate and postgraduate programs in these creative fields.
To ensure that students on even the most remote islands have access to these opportunities, UniCV is undergoing a major digital transformation. “The university must have the capacity to bring higher education to all islands by taking advantage of digital technologies,” Silveira said, noting that while this level of access does not exist yet, it is a priority of the institution’s current transformation plan.
Defining Success Beyond Rankings
This localized shift is part of a broader revision of the university’s statutes, which will be presented to the university council for approval in late November. The overhaul aims to redefine how the institution measures its own success.
“We would not like to evaluate UniCV just by a number in a ranking,” Silveira concluded. “We should be concerned with quality, student retention, employability levels, and the tangible impact our graduates have on the country’s development.”
Image: Pexels – Sayeed Chowdhury
