Most of the student body were participants in the struggle for Timorese independence, including ex-Falintil guerrillas, who had been denied a university education during the conflict before 1999.
Sebagian besar mahasiswa berpatisipasi dalam perjuangan kemerdekaan Timor Leste, termasuk mantan gerilyawan FALINTIL, yang telah menolak pendidikan universitas selama konflik sebelum tahun 1999.