The republic of Cabo Verde and Bridgewater State University have an extraordinary bond going back more than twenty years. Our special friendship mutually benefits Cabo Verde, the BSU community and southeastern Massachusetts.
July 2002
Cabo Verde receives its first U.S. Millennium Challenge Grant; BSU faculty and staff provide critical technical assistance
October 2004
Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves visits campus, marking the first of many high-level government engagements with the University
January 2005
BSU President Dana Mohler-Faria leads the University’s first delegation and study tour of 23 faculty, staff, and students to Cabo Verde
October 2005
President Pedro Pires is officially received by the University, the first ever visit by a foreign head of state to BSU
March 2006
Second study tour to Cabo Verde focuses on sustainable development; BSU donates 50 computers to high schools São Filipe and Santa Cruz
October 2006
Minister of Education Filomena Martins visits the University, setting the stage for BSU and Cabo Verde to collaborate on the development of a national university system in the islands
October 2007
Official opening of the University of Cabo Verde (UniCV); BSU President Dana Mohler-Faria serves as keynote speaker
January 2008
BSU hosts first delegation from the University of Cabo Verde to learn more about technologies supporting teaching and learning; BSU and UniCV formalize exchange agreement
June 2008
Art Professor Magaly Ponce becomes the first BSU faculty member to participate in an academic residency in Cabo Verde
June 2009
Antonio Correia e Silva, Rector of the University of Cabo Verde, visits BSU to strengthen the strategic partnership and meet with Cape Verdean scholars
September 2009
BSU welcomes its first seven students from UniCV; three students enroll in BSU master’s degree programs and four participate as exchange students
May 2010
First three master’s degree students graduate from BSU and return to Cabo Verde to begin teaching at UniCV
April 2012
In partnership with the Metro South Chamber of Commerce, BSU leads a delegation of local business leaders to Cabo Verde
April 2012
BSU formally establishes an Alumni Association chapter in Cabo Verde with 36 members
October 2012
President Jorge Carlos Fonseca is officially received by the University, becoming the second Cape Verdean head of state to visit BSU
November 2012
In partnership with Boston Public Schools, BSU leads a heritage tour of area educators to Cabo Verde; The Boston Globe soon thereafter publishes an editorial referring to BSU as “Teachers’ College to the World”
February 2013
BSU President Dana Mohler-Faria travels to Cabo Verde with Congressman Barney Frank; Congressman Frank is awarded the nation’s Medal of Merit
April 2013
In partnership with Brockton Public Schools, BSU develops and leads a professional development tour for area teachers
August 2013
BSU men’s basketball team travels to Cabo Verde for two exhibition games against the country’s national team
July 2014
BSU hosts 10 young leaders from the Pedro Pires Institute for a series of on-campus workshops on executive decision making and leadership; the opportunity thereafter becomes an annual mainstay
April 2015
Before leaving office, BSU President Dana Mohler-Faria travels to Cabo Verde to receive the nation’s highest honor, the First Medal of Merit, from President Jorge Carlos Fonseca
April 2015
BSU leads its first delegation of Massachusetts legislators to Cabo Verde; the (late) Mayor of Brockton, Bill Carpenter, also participates
June 2015
Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva visits campus
August 2015
BSU women’s basketball team travels to Cabo Verde to play two exhibition games in an international tournament and to participate in community service activities
September 2015
BSU publishes the inaugural issue of the Journal of Cabo Verdean Studies, the only academic periodical in the world devoted solely to Cabo Verde
January 2016
UniCV establishes the Dana Mohler-Faria English Language Institute
March 2016
BSU hosts three former prime ministers - Pedro Pires, Carlos Veiga, and Jose Maria Neves –for a roundtable discussion on leadership and democracy
June 2016
BSU hosts a three-day academic conference for scholars around the world – the first of several to be held at the University
December 2016
Led by BSU President Fred Clark, the University officially launches the Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies with a public event attended by 300+ people
October 2017
The Institute launches the development of “Storias di nos Muzika,” a multimedia documentary to chronicle the work of Cabo Verde’s most important composers and musicians
April 2019
BSU Provost Karim Ismaili travels to Cabo Verde to renew the University’s MOUs with the Government of Cabo Verde and UniCV
July 2019
Ten students from UniCV’s Dana Mohler-Faria English Language Institute visit BSU for a summer training program – the first of several to be held by the University
September 2019
BSU President Fred Clark addresses the Cabo Verde Investment Forum in Boston to highlight the University’s capacity-building work
October 2019
BSU President Fred Clark hosts a delegation of mayors from Fogo
January 1 2020
Following sustained support from BSU faculty, UniCV establishes a master’s degree program in English
February 2020
With support from the Institute, Cabo Verde Music Virtual Museum goes live
January 2021
BSU receives significant donation of documents and other artifacts from the Amilcar Cabral Foundation and the Cabo Verde National Library
April 2021
BSU approves a minor in Cape Verdean Studies, the first such academic program anywhere in the world
July 2022
Joao do Monte, a BSU alumnus and President of the newly created Atlantic Technical University in Cabo Verde, visits the University
September 2022
President Jose Maria Neves visits BSU to celebrate 20 years of partnership between Cabo Verde and BSU; BSU announces the establishment of two endowed scholarships named in honor of longtime administrator Miguel Gomes, Jr.
Read More: Neves Visit