The VUB International Relations office (IRMO) is very proud to share the news that our colleague Françoise De Cupere, who is a member of the University Development Cooperation unit in the VUB’s International Relations office, has received a very special recognition from the VUB’s Strategic International Partner in Cuba, the Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas (UCLV): ‘Profesora Invitada’ (Guest Professor).
26 years ago, Françoise started the search for a Belgian university to cooperate and sponsor a project in Cuba. This was while she was in Ecuador, where she met Professor Eduardo Cruz from the Department of Veterinary Medicine of UCLV. Professor Edilbert Van Driessche from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel answered her call, and it was the beginning of a major long-term (and still ongoing) cooperation and friendship with all parties involved.
Françoise began her work in Cuba in 1998 with the project “Research on surface lectins of pathogenic E. coli and lectins in feed in Cuba”. It was a VLIR-UOS Own Initiative Project carried out at the Institute of Plant Biotechnology (IBP), which increased the availability of equipment, reagents and supplies for research, and saw the completion of four Diploma papers, five Master’s theses in the Advanced Animal Health programme, and two PhD theses, as well as the publication of several scientific papers in high-impact and prestigious journals.
“She was noted for her empathetic relations with her Cuban colleagues, for her modesty, diligence, and professional skills in conducting research, while at the same time managing material resources and economic control. In addition, she was always characterised by her strength and drive, and most of her research went well due to her tireless perseverance with members of the project, but also with the authorities at different levels,” explains Dr Orelvis Portal Villafaña, Director, Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias at UCLV.
On top of her scientific and administrative work, she also taught the first English courses at UCLV with the aim to improve communication and scientific writing.
“Since 2003, she played a major role in the development, coordination and implementation of the IUC programme in Cuba, managed by Professor Dr Edilbert Van Driessche. Her excellent working and personal relationships have facilitated her work as a researcher and a woman of science. She has participated in numerous projects over the years. Notably in 2013 she was involved in the start-up of the RED TIC programme with several universities in Cuba, and in 2019 she was part of the support programme for energy policy in Cuba financed by the European Union,” adds Dr Orelvis Portal Villafaña.
She has worked as the ICOS (Institutional Coordinator for Development Cooperation) during her time at the VUB International Relations office, and all along the way she’s managed to overcome obstacles such as those created by the US embargo, which heavily impacted the cooperation between VUB and UCLV. “She always far exceeded her official duties within the VUB International Relations office, by going above and beyond for us here in Cuba,” Dr Orelvis Portal Villafaña emphasises.
A warm congratulations to our colleague and friend, Françoise De Cupere – we, your colleagues and friends, are very proud of you.
