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On 29 June, Universidade Portucalense will mark its 40th anniversary with a formal ceremony that will include the awarding of Honorary Doctorates to Maria Lúcia Amaral and Luís Portela. The ceremony will take place in the Aula Magna, starting at 3 pm. The award recognises two individuals who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to Portuguese society in the fields of Law, public life, science, innovation, and business development, reflecting the values of knowledge, responsibility, and service to the community that have defined the mission of Universidade Portucalense for four decades.  Maria Lúcia Amaral, Full Professor at the Faculty of Law of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, has dedicated her career to the study of fundamental rights, the organisation of political power, and the principles of the democratic Rule of Law, contributing to the education of several generations of legal professionals and to the advancement of thinking on Portuguese constitutional law.  In 2007, she was appointed a judge of the Constitutional Court, subsequently becoming its Vice-President. In 2017, she became the first woman to hold the post of Ombudsman in Portugal, a position to which she was re-elected in 2021. Between 2025 and 2026, she also served in the 25th Constitutional Government as Minister for Home Affairs. Her career has been characterised by her commitment to defending citizens’ rights, freedoms, and safeguards, and to strengthening democratic institutions.  Luís Portela is one of the leading figures in the Portuguese business and scientific community. A doctor by training and an entrepreneur by vocation, he led BIAL for decades, transforming it into an international leader in the pharmaceutical industry. Under his leadership, the company significantly increased its investment in research and development, achieving a historic milestone with the discovery and commercialisation of innovative medicines, developed in Portugal for international markets.  In 1994, he established the BIAL Foundation, in partnership with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities, through which he has promoted and supported scientific research in the fields of biomedicine and human consciousness. Throughout his career, he also chaired Health Cluster Portugal, served on the board of COTEC Portugal, and held the post of vice-president of the Serralves Foundation. The author of numerous works, he has combined his business activities with scholarly, humanistic, and cultural reflection.  The recipient of numerous national and international honours, including the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit and the Grand Cross of the Order of Public Instruction, Luís Portela has been awarded honorary doctorates by several Portuguese and foreign universities.  The awarding of these Honorary Doctorates is part of the programme of events marking the 40th anniversary of Universidade Portucalense, which was founded in 1986. Over the past four decades, the institution has established itself as a leading university in Portuguese higher education, distinguishing itself through the quality of its teaching, its academic output, and its links with society and the business community.

From 20 May to 3 June, the Passos Perdidos will host the “UP(T)LOADING” exhibition, showcasing projects created by students on the Bachelor’s degree in Multimedia and Arts. Using various artistic and technological mediums, students develop projects that bridge the physical and virtual worlds, as well as the audiovisual and experimental realms, reflecting diverse creative and critical perspectives on the challenges and transformations of today’s world.

From 25 to 29 May, Universidade Portucalense will host the 9th Erasmus+ Staff Week 2026 and the International Tourism and Hospitality Week, bringing together lecturers and staff from various European higher education institutions for a week dedicated to knowledge-sharing, international cooperation, and academic networking. Under the theme “Connect, Learn, Explore, Experience,” the programme includes workshops, the exchange of best practices, and cultural activities, reinforcing Universidade Portucalense’s commitment to internationalisation and innovation in higher education. The programme also includes a cultural and study abroad component, featuring participation in the 4th Alto Minho Gastronomy Symposium in Ponte de Lima, as well as study visits to Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo, offering direct contact with the region’s heritage, culture, and tourist attractions. Programme Registration

On 26 March, over 40 companies and institutions attended the 13th edition of the Careers UPT Job Fair, which combined professional opportunities with initiatives focused on developing employability skills. It was an opportunity for students, recent graduates, and employers to engage directly, allowing them to discover specific job and internship opportunities, as well as to initiate recruitment and selection processes. Alongside the exhibition component, the event included a series of sessions geared towards preparing for professional life, with a focus on the skills valued by the labour market, aiming to bridge the gap between academic education and professional practice. Topics covered included negotiating a first salary in the tech sector, identifying organisations that align with one’s career goals, and using tools such as Europass to showcase and communicate skills. The 13th edition of the Job Fair thus underscored skill development as a key driver of employability in today’s increasingly demanding and competitive labour market. Vídeo

From 20 to 24 April, Universidade Portucalense hosts the 4th Sustainability Week under the theme “Caring for People Is Caring for the Planet,” reinforcing its commitment to promoting more sustainable and inclusive practices. This year’s edition features a wide range of activities, combining moments of reflection, knowledge sharing, and practical initiatives. The programme begins on 20 April with the official opening session and the inauguration of the exhibition “Educar para Transformar (“Educating to Transform”), also featuring the presentation of the previous edition’s e-book. Throughout the week, lectures, workshops, debates, and a sustainable market are scheduled, with a special emphasis on Earth Day celebrations on 22 April. The topics under analysis include the carbon footprint, the use of technology, social inclusion, and responsible consumption practices, reflecting a cross-cutting approach to the different dimensions of sustainability. Students will also be actively involved in this event, through the presentation of projects and academic posters, thus strengthening the link between teaching and the practical application of sustainable development concepts. Cultural activities and community engagement moments, such as sustainable Olympics and book exchange initiatives, are also planned. The closing ceremony is set for 24 April, with the presentation of awards to the best initiatives carried out during the event.  

Universidade Portucalense will host the 15th BAD Congress (Librarians, Archivists, Information and Documentation Professionals), taking place from 17 to 19 June.

Researchers, policy makers, and experts from Latin America and Southern Europe will gather at Universidade Portucalense on 16 April for the II Latin Polar Science Workshop. This international meeting focuses on the impact of polar regions on global climate stability and the strengthening of Latin-European scientific cooperation in polar science. The programme includes debates on polar infrastructure, climate impacts, scientific diplomacy, Arctic governance, indigenous communities, maritime routes, sea life, and the interconnections between polar, oceanic, and climate systems, at a time when polar science is playing an increasingly pivotal role in shaping global public policy. Students and researchers have until 28 February to submit their papers.  To view event information and register, click here. Organization: Latin Polar Science, in a partnership with Instituto Jurídico Portucalense. POSTER  

Universidade Portucalense welcomed students from Università di Parma (Italy), Estonian Business School (Estonia), and Grenoble École de Management (France) as part of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on “International Sustainable Management: Business Planning and Reporting” between 24 and 28 November.

In late November, Francisco Nicolau Domingos, coordinator of the Lisbon branch of Instituto Jurídico Portucalense (IJP), took part in several Brazilian academic forums, further strengthening research networks and legal dialogue within the Portuguese-Brazilian sphere.

Universidade Portucalense is one of the higher education institutions that has joined the IAedu platform, “Artificial Intelligence for Higher Education and Research.”