On 9 September, Universidade Portucalense welcomed its first-year students as part of an induction programme that introduced them to the university’s pedagogical project, support services, and the Departments Directors, concluding with the Institutional Welcome Session.
The morning began with a presentation of the pedagogical project by the Vice-Rector for Teaching, Elizabeth Real, followed by talks on the support available to students and the introduction of the Departments Directors.
In the afternoon, the welcome programme culminated in the Institutional Welcome Session. At the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Armando Jorge de Carvalho, emphasised that starting university marks the beginning of a demanding phase, but also one of discovery and growth, and called on the students to show resilience, hard work, and responsibility.
He offered a word of appreciation to the families: “Your role has been, is, and will continue to be essential as a safe haven in the face of the natural anxieties associated with the process of settling into university life.”
Armando Jorge de Carvalho pointed out that Universidade Portucalense already has more than 4,000 students enrolled on degree courses. For the Chairman of the Board of Directors, this growth confirms the confidence in the institution’s educational project, in a year marked by changes to the legal framework governing higher education.
He also left a note for new students about the support available throughout their academic journey, including grants, social support, Erasmus mobility, and tuition fee protection insurance in certain situations of vulnerability. Finally, he invited them to take part in the University’s activities: “What will set you apart in a few years’ time is not just what you have learnt, but the people you have become.”
In his subsequent speech, the Rector Fernando Ramos highlighted the start of a crucial phase for the students’ academic, personal, and professional futures. Looking back on the history of the institution, which was founded in 1986, he highlighted the development of Universidade Portucalense as a private university, which today offers programmes at various cycles of study and across different academic fields.
In this context, he announced the launch of four new degree programmes for the academic year – the Master’s degree in Digital Media Art and the doctoral programmes in Architecture and Resilient Habitat, Translational Psychology, and Destination Management – which reflect the strengthening of the University’s scientific and pedagogical capacity, underpinned by the development of research.
Fernando Ramos also highlighted the role of Portucalense Business School in executive training and lifelong learning, offering a range of programmes tailored to the needs of individuals and organisations. Against a backdrop of increasing competition in higher education, he regarded the choice made by the new students and their families as a sign of confidence in the quality of Universidade Portucalense’s educational project.
As is traditional at the welcome ceremony, Universidade Portucalense recognised students for their academic achievement by awarding 36 Merit Scholarships and 12 Quality Promotion Scholarships.
