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.

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.

Third International Symposium in Human Rights and Citizenship: Call for Papers deadline 15 May – Universidade Portucalense – Infante D. Henrique The call for papers for the 3rd International Symposium on Human Rights and Citizenship, which will take place on 18 and 19 June at Universidade Portucalense, is open until 15 May. Under the theme “Causal Links between Structural Inequalities and Violations of Human and Citizens’ Rights,” this edition offers an in-depth examination of the social, political, and technological phenomena that directly impact contemporary societies, fostering dialogue among researchers, lecturers, students, and institutions from diverse academic and geographical backgrounds. The symposium aims to encourage contributions in line with recent international academic and institutional agendas, bringing together perspectives from critical social theory, public policy, social justice, and sustainable development, in keeping with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The main topics under discussion are: Social Inequalities and Vulnerabilities; Active Citizenship and Democratic Participation; Social Justice and Public Policy; The Impact of Technological Change; Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The Organising Committee extends a warm invitation to the academic and scientific community to join this forum for reflection and knowledge-building, thereby contributing to a debate with academic, social, and civic impact. Registration and further information are available here.

Registration for the 9th edition of the Applied Training in Labour Law is open until April 27. This training programme, which will be delivered online, arises within a context of significant changes to labour legislation resulting from the Decent Work Agenda and is particularly aimed at companies, solicitors, legal experts, human resources managers, and employees seeking to update and consolidate their knowledge. Taking a practical and professional-oriented approach, the programme covers key topics in Portuguese Labour Law, including: Termination of employment contracts; Organization of working hours; Special regime employment contracts. The programme’s goal is to provide a legal update in Labour Law and to improve the fundamental skills needed to apply the law effectively in business and legal careers. Course begins: 8 May 2026