News

Clara Sottomayor, Counselor Judge of the Supreme Court of Justice, and Daniel Gomes, lecturer at Universidade Portucalense, are taking part in the seminar “International Children’s Day: strategies to safeguard their rights,” which will take place on 27 May at 11.00 am in Auditorium 104. The seminar aims to encourage critical reflection on the current challenges facing child protection and the need to strengthen the legal and institutional instruments capable of effectively safeguarding children’s rights in the face of new social, family, and legal realities. In this context, Clara Sottomayor will focus her presentation on “The best interests of the child as a Human Right” and Daniel Gomes on “The legal protection of children: some notes on the constitutional provision and its implementation.” The opening session will feature presentations by Fernando Ramos, Rector of Universidade Portucalense, Fernanda Rebelo, Director of the Department of Law, and Fátima Matos Silva, coordinator of the Cultura@Portucalense project. The moderator will be Olívia de Carvalho, coordinator of the “From Human Rights to Children’s Rights” project at the Instituto Jurídico Portucalense. Free admission. Organization: Cultura@Portucalense and Department of Law, in a partnership with Instituto Jurídico Portucalense. Poster

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.”