Cohort #3: The workshop specifically focuses on "HIGHER EDUCATION FOR RECONCILIATION, PEACE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA." This aligns with Angola's vision for higher education as a critical instrument for peace and human development.
This initiative is a core component of 'The President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço Higher Education, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Program'.
Blueprint for HBCU Expansion in Africa
A significant objective is to create a blueprint for the future of HBCUs in Angola and across Africa. This involves conducting alignment studies to match HBCU strengths with Angola's needs and securing endorsements from government ministries to lay the groundwork for satellite campuses and scholarship programs.
Strengthening Diplomatic Ties and Human Capital: The initiative aims to strengthen diplomatic ties, enhance research capabilities, and foster goodwill between the United States and Angola. A desired legacy is the creation of a robust, research-based higher education ecosystem in Angola that can serve as a continental model. It seeks to create opportunities for mutual strengthening through professor sabbaticals, diplomat lectures, and student internships, opening channels for students, faculty, and diplomats to build partnerships, share knowledge, and enhance capacity for the African job market. In summary, the workshop serves as a foundational step in a multi-phase initiative to establish a lasting educational and socio-economic bridge between HBCUs and Angola, with the ultimate goal of fostering peace, human development, and a replicable model for academic diplomacy across Africa.