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Universidade Portucalense, in partnership with the Municipality of Amarante and with the scientific support of CINTESIS.UPT@RISE-Health, is organising the 1st International Congress on Community Intervention and Social Transformation. The event is part of the 11th edition of the “Amarante de Igual para Igual” campaign. The event will take place from 5 to 7 November 2025 at the Cineteatro de Amarante. It is intended as a space for meeting, sharing, and innovating, focusing on the emerging challenges in social and community intervention and the development of collaborative strategies for social transformation. 5 November features the pre-congress workshops and the innovative “World Café” activity. This session will bring together professionals from different regions of the country to co-construct ideas and practical solutions applicable to community contexts. The Congress’s themed sessions, round tables, and plenary conferences will be held on 6 and 7 November, led by keynote speakers of national and international renown. Reflections will focus on intervention with families, the promotion of equality, and the cross-cutting nature of community practices in the face of contemporary social challenges. See the event’s page.  

On 10 September, at the Institutional Welcome Session, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Armando Jorge de Carvalho, highlighted the sustained growth of the University, which once again recorded an increase in the number of students, despite the 12% reduction in the total number of applicants to Higher Education at national level. For Armando Jorge de Carvalho, this result reflects “the market’s recognition of the work carried out by the academic community, which contributes to strengthening the institution’s prestige.” He also recalled recent achievements, such as the award of the “green lane” regime by A3ES in the process of accrediting study cycles and the “Very Good” evaluation achieved by the University’s four Research Units in the FCT evaluation. Addressing the new students, he emphasised that the road ahead is demanding but also full of opportunities: “It will certainly require a great deal of effort on your part, great resilience, dedication, hard work, and discipline. It’s not always easy to overcome difficulties but every obstacle you overcome will make you stronger, more confident, and better prepared. Such effort will pay off with new knowledge, experiences, and friendships.” He asserted the institution’s commitment to train responsible citizens and competent professionals: “We want you to be active agents in the improvement global society by exercising full and responsible citizenship, becoming committed citizens and exemplary professionals.” He ended with a message of accountability: “The world is currently experiencing times of extreme complexity and instability, with conflicts and crises affecting all sectors of society. These challenges are also reflected in the daily lives of families, on a social, economic, and emotional level. It is in this context that we challenge you to build a solid future, based on knowledge, values, and civic intervention.” In his speech, Rector Fernando Ramos emphasised the institution’s path of affirmation since its foundation in 1986 and the consolidation of its training offer in various areas of knowledge. He recalled the more traditional courses, such as Law, Management, Economics, and Tourism, but also the more recent and expanding areas, such as Architecture, Multimedia, International Relations, and Engineering. He also mentioned the creation of Portucalense Business School in 2023 as an example of the reinforcement of the commitment to advanced and executive training. Fernando Ramos pointed to two of the university’s strategic pillars: the promotion of scientific research and pedagogical innovation, which involves the adoption of active learning methodologies and the incorporation of the latest digital technologies, including generative artificial intelligence. “Our aim is clear: to ensure that our students’ education is on a par with the best in Portugal and the world, preparing them for an increasingly complex future that requires solid foundations, both scientifically and in terms of human and behavioural aspects,” he concluded. The Institutional Welcome Session also included the presentation of the Quality and Merit Promotion Scholarships, as well as the “Brandzone – Media Experts” and “Giacomini Portugal” awards. The programme ended with performances by Tuna Feminina and Tuna Académica, which reinforced the atmosphere of integration and celebration.    

From 3 to 5 September, Universidade Portucalense held the UPT Erasmus Welcome Week, a welcoming programme for students of 18 nationalities. In this first semester of the 2025-2026 academic year, Universidade Portucalense is hosting 102 students from European universities from 17 countries – Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Türkiye, and Slovakia. This group was also joined by two international exchange students from Brazil. The programme began with a welcome session led by the Vice-Rector for Teaching, Elizabeth Real, followed by a guided tour of the University and the International Aperitif. Over the next few days, various educational, cultural, and leisure activities took place, facilitating the students’ integration into the university and the city of Porto. Among the highlights were the 6 Bridges Cruise on the River Douro, a surf lesson, and an integration dinner. Organised by the International Relations Office, UPT Erasmus Welcome Week reaffirms Universidade Portucalense’s commitment to internationalisation, cultural diversity, and welcoming a global, inclusive, and dynamic academic community.