The Universidade Internacional do Cuanza (UNIC) held its first official graduation ceremony, a historic event that marks a milestone in the consolidation of the higher education system in the province of Bié, Angola. A total of 241 students from the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences completed their university education, becoming the first generation of professionals to graduate from the institution.
The ceremony was attended by prominent political, diplomatic, and academic authorities, including the provincial governor of Bié, Celeste Elavoco David Adolfo; the head of the Military Intelligence and Security Service, General João Pereira Massano; the ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Angola, Manuel María Leja Lobo; and the secretary of state for Higher Education, Eugénio Adolfo Alves da Silva.
During the ceremony, the rector of UNIC, Prof. Dr. Carlos Jelvéz Martínez, highlighted that this first graduation represents a significant academic achievement that consolidates the presence of higher education in the region and strengthens cultural and scientific ties between Africa, Europe, and America. He also emphasized the university’s commitment to research, innovation, and sustainable development.
For her part, Governor Celeste Adolfo highlighted the strategic role of higher education for the progress of the province of Bié, reaffirming the Angolan government’s commitment to continue supporting educational initiatives that contribute to the training of highly qualified professionals.
The ceremony took place in two formal sessions. In the first, held in the morning, students from the Business Management and Administration course graduated. In the second session, graduates from Organizational Psychology and Journalism received their diplomas in an atmosphere marked by emotion, pride, and academic celebration.
The event also highlighted the recognition given by the company ENSA Seguros de Angola, which awarded prizes to the 15 students with the highest academic average in the three courses. Each of them received a laptop, a backpack, and health insurance valid for one year, as an incentive for academic excellence.
The ceremony was hosted by Angola Public Television (TPA) presenter Sérgio Rodriguez, who acted as master of ceremonies, bringing solemnity and dynamism to the event. The second act was closed by the deputy governor for Technical Services and Infrastructure of Bié, José Fernando Tchatuvela, who conveyed a message of congratulations and motivation to the new professionals.
In his virtual speech, Dr. Santos Gracia Villar recalled the origin and evolution of the university project, emphasizing that the creation of the Universidade Internacional do Cuanza (UNIC) responds to a strategic vision initiated in 2018 with the aim of expanding access to quality higher education in the central region of Angola. In his message, he highlighted that the project began to take shape in 2020 with the construction of the university campus in the city of Cuito, a process that symbolizes the transformation of the territory and the commitment to social development. Dr. Graça Villar emphasized that the land where the university now stands had previously been a minefield, so its recovery and conversion into a space dedicated to knowledge, academic training, and international cooperation represents a powerful symbol of peace, progress, and hope for the country’s new generations. He also pointed out that the university aspires to establish itself as a regional benchmark in higher education, research, and innovation, actively contributing to economic growth and the strengthening of human capital in Angola.
The Universidade Internacional do Cuanza is an educational initiative promoted by the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana (FUNIBER) and the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (UNEATLANTICO), part of the international academic network that promotes educational cooperation between Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, known as Iberophony, a cultural and linguistic community that brings together more than 900 million people worldwide.
With this first graduation, UNIC not only awards university degrees, but also opens a new stage for the training of qualified human capital in Angola, contributing to the country’s development and strengthening its role in the educational and scientific sphere of the African continent.
