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Díli, 05/11/2024: The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Culture, in collaboration with the Presidential Palace Office, held the award ceremony for the winners of the “Public Speaking and Knowledge Olympiad” competition, which took place in recent days. This initiative is part of the SCI-TECH EXPO 2024 program, designed to promote tourism and sustainability in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The event was held at the China Hall, within the Presidential Palace at Aitarak Laran, Díli.
The awards ceremony marked the conclusion of SCI-TECH EXPO 2024, an event that began in August 2024 and encompassed various activities, including an International Conference featuring internationally renowned speakers in Science, Technology, and Innovation, thematic exhibitions, and culminating in the Public Speaking and Knowledge Olympiad competitions.
During the official ceremony, His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister, Eng. Mariano Assanami Sabino, presided over the commission responsible, reaffirming the commitment to collaboration between the Government and the President of the Republic. This year, such collaboration enabled the implementation of numerous initiatives aimed at promoting tourism in Timor-Leste, evidenced through events like the SCI-TECH EXPO, the Rabilau Cultural Festival, among others, involving various Ministries and Autonomous Institutions.
The winners of the “Public Speaking” competition were Dílison Morux (ISFIT), first place; Flacio Soares (ISFIT), second place; Trifónio Martins (IOB), third place; Marcela Leite (ISJB), fourth place; and Pio de Jesus (UNTL), fifth place. In the “Knowledge Olympiad” category, the winners were Celina Franklin (UNTL), first place; Deonísio Pinto (UCT), second place; Aveeli Oliveira (JSI), third place; Juvência Pereira (UNTL), fourth place; and Delfina Martins (UNITAL), fifth place.
His Excellency the President of the Republic, Dr. José Ramos Horta, emphasized in his speech the importance of initiatives that promote tourism, highlighting their positive impact on Timorese society. He encouraged students to focus on studying and developing in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation. He also stressed the crucial role of these areas in promoting tourism and projecting Timor-Leste’s unique identity internationally, significantly contributing to economic growth, particularly through tourism revenues.
The session also included the presence of the Director-General for Higher Education and Science, Mrs. Maria Filomena Lay Guterres, who presented the program’s execution report, along with Executive Directors, the Chief of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic, representatives of Higher Education Institutions, students, and other relevant entities.
