Interdisciplinarity. Complexity. Graduate Program. Construction of Knowledge. Scientific Knowledge. Technological Knowledge.

Abstract

This article deals with the implantation of graduate study in UNTL, in East Timor, in the context of the Program of Portuguese Language Teaching3 Qualification”, which has as its main goal contributing to the re-introduction of the Portuguese language in East Timor, now that the country has acquired its independence. Portuguese, the language spoken by some of the population of the Portuguese Timor, in addition to local dialects, was forbidden after Indonesia invaded East Timor, in 1975. In 2002, on the occasion of the re-establishment of independence, only 10% of the population spoke Portuguese, although the Constitution of East Timor determines that Tetum and Portuguese are the official languages of the country, with Portuguese being the language of instruction. The article discusses the process of implanting a program of graduate study in East Timor as an instrument for strengthening the Portuguese language in that Southeast Asian country. The implantation was effectuated by Brazilian professors, in a context of international cooperation. Soon after the independence of East Timor, Brazil signed an agreement of educational cooperation and started sending 50 professors per year to develop in-service teacher formation projects and the training presecondary and secondary teachers. In 2007, two new projects were included. One of them was the implantation of a graduate program in UNTL. It is the author’s experience in the coordination of this program that is reported here.