Morabeza, science and new beginnings: GIMM co-created program completes its first training stage in Cape Verde
Morabeza, science and new beginnings: GIMM co-created program completes its first training stage in Cape Verde shrnuje, že první edice Specialization Course v Biomedicíně v Cape Verde úspěšně dokončila své školící období. Program PALOP, spoluvytvořený GIMM a Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, zahrnoval šest měsíců intenzivního tréninku pro 20 absolventů z Angoly, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau a Mozambiku v oborech zdraví a biosciences a propojuje komunity napříč zeměmi s cílem podpořit spolupráci a sdílení poznatků. Kurz zahrnoval nejen vědecké znalosti, ale i rozvoj laboratorních, výpočetních a transferových dovedností a zapojil studenty do Morabezas Científicas a závěrečné online i osobní události; po ukončení fáze se účastníci přesouvají do Portugalska na šestiměsíční praxi v předních výzkumných institucích a někteří se postupně zapojí do GIMM.
Anyone who has been to Cape Verde knows the feeling of morabeza. More than just hospitality, the word captures a warm, generous way of welcoming others, making them feel at home and creating connections. It is a spirit of openness and sharing that also found its way into the first edition of the Scientific Research in Biomedicine Specialization Course, which has just completed its training component at the University of Cape Verde.
The course is part of the Scientific Acceleration Program (PAC, in Portuguese) for Portuguese-Speaking African Countries (PALOP), co-created by GIMM and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in partnership with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon and the University of Cape Verde. Its aim is to bring together scientific communities across these countries, promoting collaboration, knowledge exchange and shared growth.
Launched in February, the program brought together 20 young graduates from Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique for six months of intensive training in the fundamental and specialized fields of health and life sciences. The curriculum covered biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, bioinformatics, public health and infectious diseases, as well as English language classes. More than 40 lecturers from the University of Cape Verde, the Lisbon Medical School and GIMM, alongside specialists from other scientific fields, contributed to the course.
Beyond scientific knowledge, the training aimed to develop laboratory, computational and transferable skills, while encouraging critical thinking, autonomy and the ability to turn relevant questions into research projects.
“This first edition confirmed that there is a wealth of talent that can grow even further through collaboration, knowledge sharing and the joint creation of opportunities. We are strengthening the connections between scientific communities, united by a shared language, curiosity and the desire to contribute to science, and to global health and well-being”, underlines Luís Valente, GIMM’s Head of Education & Training.
The learning experience also extended beyond the classroom and laboratory. Throughout the six months, students took part in the Morabezas Científicas, a series of webinars bringing together voices from different fields, including the environment, literature, journalism, human rights and citizenship. The final stage of the course, held in Praia, included a special edition of Morabeza Científica, with the participation of Mozambican writer and biologist Mia Couto. Under the theme “What We Know and What We Still Need to Imagine”, the session explored the connections between science, knowledge and imagination. With the completion of this first stage, the 20 participants are now preparing to move from the classroom to the laboratory. They will undertake six-month practical placements at leading research institutions in Portugal, where they will join scientific teams and gain hands-on experience. Starting in February 2027, several participants will join GIMM, becoming part of its research community. Always in a morabeza mood.
