Project News

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been extending a technical cooperation for human resource development at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Timor Leste since April 2006. The Faculty of Engineering, the former Hera polytechnic before the independence from Indonesia, was established in November 2000 as a part of the National University of Timor Leste. The Faculty of Engineering is composed of three departments; Mechanical Engineering Department,Electrical/Electronic Engineering Department and Civil Engineering Department. The number of teaching staff is around 50, and the number of students is approximately 400.

The project is called capacity development of teaching staff in the Faculty of Engineering (CADETES project). CADETES project has two main activities to make Hera campus more attractive. One is capacity development of the teaching staff, the other is social contribution to the Timorese society such as ministries, industries and communities. Despite the fact that the project was suspended for almost one year due to the conflict occurred in 2006, the project takes a practical step and reaching its goal through the following activities.

• Official resumption of CADETES project (August 2007)
• Intensive training by Japanese professors (September 2007)
• Intensive training and advice on proposals by Japanese professors (March 2008)
• Seminar for the teaching staff who obtained master’s degree in Japan (April 25th 2008)
• Establishment of academic cooperation with Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS)
• Handover Ceremony (June 12th 2008)
• Joint seminar with Ministry of Infrastructure (June 20th 2008)
• Class evaluation by students (July 2008)
• Examination of basic subject (September 20th 2008)
• Monitoring Mission and Joints Coordinating Committee (March 2009)
• Intensive training by Japanese professors (March 2009)
• Technical Seminar by Japanese professors (12th March 2009)