Naruto University of Education – JICA Mozambique Education Cooperation Platform
To effectively utilize the assets developed through its longstanding collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in supporting education in Mozambique, Naruto University of Education (NUE) established the Education Cooperation Platform Secretariat in 2025 within its campus (INCET) and the JICA Mozambique Office. The platform aims to foster educational experts from both Japan and Mozambique, promote networking, develop and disseminate educational materials, and advance bilateral educational cooperation.
Background
NUE’s cooperation with Mozambique began in February 2008 with a JICA country-specific training program. At the time, Mozambique was recovering from civil war, and school enrollment rates were rapidly increasing. With schools being built at a fast pace, teacher training became an urgent issue. To address this, a country-specific training program was conducted to enhance the soft infrastructure of two schools built with support from the Japanese government. In 2017, an academic exchange agreement was signed with the Pedagogical University of Mozambique. Since 2008, NUE has conducted a total of 10 JICA training programs, including online sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As outlined below, the university has implemented JICA training programs, follow-up projects for video teaching materials, dispatched experts for JICA technical cooperation projects, and accepted JICA international students from Mozambique. In March 2025, a memorandum was signed with JICA Shikoku regarding dispatching students as Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV). Over the next five years, undergraduate and graduate students will be sent to Mozambique (approximately 5 long-term and 10 short-term volunteers).
Achievements in NUE’s Educational Cooperation with Mozambique
• JICA Country-Specific and Issue-Specific Training: Since FY2007, a total of 10 country-specific training programs have been conducted, including online sessions. A total of 120 trainees from Mozambique have participated.
• Signed an international academic exchange agreement with the Pedagogical University of Mozambique in 2017.
• FY2021 JICA Follow-Up Project: Produced 100 science experiment video materials and teacher guides for elementary school teachers as part of follow-up cooperation.
• JICA Technical Cooperation Project: “Project for Expansion of New Curriculum in Mozambique” (2021–2027), in collaboration with Koei Research & Consulting Inc. and PADECO Co., Ltd.
• Acceptance of JICA International Students: Two students completed their master’s degrees in September 2023; three more are expected to graduate in September 2025.
•Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) Dispatch: Planned dispatch of 1 long-term and 3 short-term volunteers in FY2025.
【Activities of the Mozambique Education Cooperation Platform
① Participation in JICA Technical Cooperation Projects & Dispatch of Educational Experts
• Ongoing Project:
| Duration | Project Name |
| March 2021 – April 2027 (Three phases, each lasting two years) | Project for Expansion of New Curriculum in Mozambique https://www.jica.go.jp/oda/project/1941835/index.html?wovn=en |
② Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) Dispatch Program
| March 4, 2025 | Memorandum signed regarding dispatching students as volunteers. | Activities will be conducted in collaboration with alumni already working locally. |
＜派遣実績＞
| Role | Dispatch Period | |
| 1 | Primary Education | Aug 2025 – Aug 2027（Long-term) |
| 2 | Primary Education | Jan 2026 – Mar 2026（Short-term) |
| 3 | Primary Education | Jan 2026 – Mar 2026（Short-term) |
| 4 | Primary Education | Jan 2026 – Mar 2026（Short-term) |
③ JICA Training & Acceptance of International Students (Human Resource Development)
・Commissioned Training Programs
| Year | Program Name |
| 2007 | Cuamba & Chimoio Teacher Training School Development Plan C/P Training |
| 2013 | Improvement of Teaching Methods for In-Service Teachers at Teacher Training Schools |
| 2014 | Improvement of Teaching Methods for In-Service Teachers at Teacher Training Schools |
| 2015 | Improvement of Teaching Methods for In-Service Teachers at Teacher Training Schools |
| 2016 | Improvement of Teaching Methods for In-Service Teachers at Teacher Training Schools |
| 2017 | Capacity Building of Teacher Training Schools |
| 2018 | Improvement of Teaching Methods for In-Service Teachers at Teacher Training Schools |
| 2019 | Improvement of Teaching Methods for In-Service Teachers at Teacher Training Schools |
・International Students
As part of the JICA Technical Cooperation Project, NUE accept international students from Mozambique into its master’s program to develop core specialized personnel in the areas of curriculum and textbooks supported by the project.
・Batch 1: Oct 2021 – Sep 2023 (2 students completed)
・Batch 2: Sep 2023 – Sep 2025 (3 students completed)
・Batch 3: Sep 2025 – Sep 2027 (1 students enrolled)
④Development, Accumulation, and Dissemination of Educational Materials
・Video Teaching Materials (in Portuguese)
External site（YouTube） ⇒ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSQ54HoCvj5gkbEuovCZJrIqIgSkaansB
＜Overview＞
As a follow-up to the 2018 JICA training program, 100 short science experiment videos (under 10 minutes each) and corresponding teacher guides were created for use by instructors and students at elementary teacher training schools (IFP) and primary school teachers.
- Educational materials
⑤ Hosting of Reporting Sessions and Study Groups
- Portuguese Language Study Group & Stakeholder Network
External site(Instagram) ⇒ Instagram
⑥ Hosting of Seminars
- Mozambique Education Seminar (March5,2026)
Co-organized by Universidade Pedagógica de Maputo, JICA Mozambique, Naruto University of Education, and Ehime University.
・program ⇒ Japanese Mathematics and Science Education Seminar PROGRAM
・Opening Video Letter by Mr. Sako, Rector of Naruto University of Education ⇒ Message from the President
・Lecture and Presentation Materials ⇒ Mozambique_seminar_EN Mozambique_seminar_Portuguese
