News

On 20 May, at the Relationship Marketing Summit, business leaders and experts will take to the stage at the Aula Magna to discuss the strategic role of organisational relationships and sustainability in creating business value.   Focusing on the themes of Relationship Marketing and Sustainability, the event will feature two keynote speakers: Artur Santos Silva (“La Caixa” Foundation) will address leadership, institutional trust, and the creation of sustainable value, while Ricardo Pol Sánchez (Interface) will focus on innovation, strategic design, and sustainability as applied to organisations.   Two roundtables are scheduled throughout the day. The first session, at 11.30 am, will explore the importance of strategic relationships for the growth and positioning of organisations, featuring Vítor Reis (Altronix), Reinaldo Teixeira (Liga Portugal), José Wilson (Black Coffee), Luís Godinho (Liga Portugal), and Hugo Tavares Freitas (A Oficina). The second roundtable, at 3 pm, will focus on the challenges of innovation, sustainability, and business competitiveness, and will feature Carlos Alves (HFA), Ricardo Correia (OLI), Pedro Antunes (PewPew), Paula Sá (Netgócio), and Ricardo Pol Sánchez (Interface).   The Relationship Marketing Summit aims to demonstrate that relationship marketing is crucial to strengthening trust, reputation, and commitment between companies and their stakeholders, whilst sustainability is established as a central pillar of competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable growth.

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

Emídio Gomes, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Metro do Porto, is the guest speaker at the seminar cycle “The paths of ideas,” on 15 May at 11am, in auditorium 201. The seminar, on the theme “Globalisation and Geostrategic Balance: the role of Metro do Porto,” will address issues relating to global development models, based on the premise that globalisation is an inevitable phenomenon, but one that can be regulated with a view to achieving greater geostrategic balance. Issues such as value creation from locally generated knowledge and the impact of global dynamics on peripheral regions will be examined. Public investment, dependence on structural funds, and economic and social development will also be discussed.  Free admission subject to prior 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.”