The government of Cabo Verde is reevaluating its higher education system, with a possible merger of the Universidade Técnica do Atlântico (UTA) into the Universidade de Cabo Verde (Uni-CV). This move has sparked a national debate on the ideal model for public higher education in the archipelago. With a population of around half a million and limited resources, Cabo Verde needs to assess whether its current system is sustainable. The country has made significant progress in expanding access to higher education, but now faces challenges in ensuring quality and efficiency.
Cabo Verde has made notable strides in increasing access to higher education, with the creation of several institutions in recent decades. However, this expansion has led to concerns about the system's compatibility with the country's demographic, economic, and scientific capacity. A university requires more than just courses and administrative structures; it needs qualified professors, ongoing research, laboratories, libraries, and international cooperation. When resources are scarce, dispersing them across multiple small institutions risks creating structures without true academic density.
The issue at hand is not limited to the two public universities, but also involves the nine private institutions operating in the country. While private education has played a crucial role in expanding access, it faces limitations in financing research, qualifying faculty, and modernizing infrastructure. The problem is not just about the number of public universities, but also about whether the overall system is tailored to the country's scale, needs, and scientific capacity.
A potential integration of UTA into Uni-CV could make sense if done correctly, with a focus on creating a national university with a distributed presence across the archipelago. This approach would prioritize areas of knowledge linked to the vocations and potential of each island. For example, Cabo Verde could establish specialized hubs for health sciences and technology in Santiago, agrarian and environmental sciences in Santiago or Santo Antão, and geology and volcanology in the Fogo.
The geography of Cabo Verde could be leveraged as an academic resource, with each island contributing its unique strengths. São Vicente has a tradition of maritime activities, while the Sal island has a strong focus on aviation and tourism. The Fogo island offers ideal conditions for studying volcanology and high-altitude agriculture, and Santo Antão is well-suited for research in agriculture, water, and environment. Santiago, with its large population and administrative center, could host institutions focused on health, public administration, and national institutions.
A reform of the higher education system would require a serious policy on mobility, including university residences, scholarships, inter-island transportation, shared laboratories, and common digital platforms. The circulation of students and faculty would need to become an integral part of the university experience. The insularity of the archipelago, often seen as a constraint, could also become part of the educational experience.
Any reform should prioritize academic reinforcement over administrative rationalization. The goal is to create a system with more qualified professors, research opportunities, and better-equipped laboratories. Cabo Verde needs to decide whether it wants institutions focused on offering courses or universities capable of producing original knowledge. The country's small scale requires a university that goes beyond certification and helps address national problems and challenges.
Key points
- The government of Cabo Verde is considering merging universities to improve quality and efficiency in the higher education system.
- The country needs to assess whether its current system is sustainable, given its limited resources and population of around half a million.
- A potential integration of universities could prioritize areas of knowledge linked to the vocations and potential of each island.
