The Conselho de Reitores das Universidades Portuguesa (CRUP) – Portuguese Rectors’ Conference

The “Conselho de Reitores das Universidades Portuguesas” – CRUP, exists since May 1979, when a first Decree Law defined its creation.

In August 1993 and in June 2005, also by Decree Laws, CRUP went through a redefinition of its objectives and a re-composition in its membership, incorporating at present 16 members including all the public university institutions plus the Portuguese Catholic University.

CRUP acts mainly in assuring the coordination and the representation of its members in everything related with the development of a National Higher Education policy, getting actively involved:

• In the preparation of legislative projects concerning public university teaching;
• In the discussion of the annual budgets allocated to the public university system;
• In contributing for the social advancement of the university, science and culture;
• In strengthening and improving the relations with university systems of foreign countries and with similar Rectors’ Conferences abroad.

The Universidade de Lisboa (UL)

With an outstanding scientific and cultural tradition, the Universidade de Lisboa, whose origin dates back to the establishment of the Portuguese University by King D. Dinis in 1288 and re-founded in 1911, is a state institution, a centre intended to produce, transmit and diffuse knowledge, culture and science at the highest level. The Universidade de Lisboa has, currently, an estimated number of 20,000 students and a teaching staff of 1 825 highly qualified professors, many of whom are eminent cultural and scientific Portuguese personalities.

Research is carried out in laboratories, institutes and research centres sponsored by the public and private sectors as well as through exchange programmes with other universities and other national and international institutions. In what concerns research projects, quality services promoting schema, construction of infrastructures, overall modernisation and improvement projects in general, the Universidade de Lisboa is represented and participates in European Union, bilateral and international programmes and in inter-institutional European projects and programmes.

At the international level, the Universidade de Lisboa favours the relation with the community through co-operation initiatives, namely in the fields of consulting, applied research, specialised services, technological transfer, assessment of projects and training, as well as in cultural activities. It also participates in and is a member of innumerable prestigious world organisations and networks which cover the interests, concerns and goals it pursues.

The Catholic University of Portugal (UCP)

The Catholic University of Portugal is the only catholic university in the country. Its seat is in Lisbon with a second campus near Sintra, but it also has campuses in Northern and in Central Portugal, i.e. in Braga, in Porto and in Viseu. Its 19 Faculties and Institutes offer courses at undergraduate and graduate level, as well as diploma courses. They cover a wide range of scientific fields: Theology, Philosophy, Law, Languages, Fine Arts, Economics, Business Administration and Management, Engineering, Biotechnology, Social Sciences, Religious Studies, Architecture, Education, Health Sciences and Nursing. Its population amounts to ca. 11,200 students and a teaching staff of 1,000 professors and lecturers.

The University was established in 1967 under Concordat law. The Portuguese State recognises it as on a par with the State-run universities.

Research activities are conducted both within the Faculties and in specialised research centres or laboratories. UCP edits scientific journals and has a publishing house – UCEditora.

The international dimension has been present at the University from the beginning. UCP is a member of international associations of universities and participates in several European programmes. It also has strong ties to Macau and to some of the African Portuguese-speaking countries (Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde).

The Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA)

Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA) was founded in 1973 and presently integrates five Faculties, three Institutes and a School that offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in all areas of knowledge.
 The most recently founded public institution for higher education and scientific research within the Lisbon metropolitan area, NOVA gives pride of place to interdisciplinary research and institutional cooperation. Through its four main strategic pillars – Excellence, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Internationalization – the Institution aims at:
Improving higher education in Portugal, especially through the Bologna Process

Contributing to the development of academic and scientific knowledge

Playing an active role in Portugal’s progress by improving human resources

Cooperating with Portuguese speaking countries in Africa, Brazil and Timor.

At present, approximately 18 000 people study and work at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, including 14 000 students and 1420 academic staff. The University also integrates 49 Research Centres, develops cooperative projects with numerous institutions, companies and universities on the national and international levels, and participates in research networks and exchange programs, including those that fall within the scope of the Socrates/Erasmus Program.
At NOVA, both professors and students come from different cultures and nationalities, constituting a cosmopolitan and innovative university environment open to the future.

The Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (UTL)

The Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (Technical University of Lisbon), UTL, was founded in 1930 with the congregation of four well-established Schools, the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine), the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (School of Agronomy), the Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão (School of Economics and Management) and the Instituto Superior Técnico (School of Engineering). Later three other Schools were integrated, the Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas (School of Social and Political Sciences), the Faculdade de Motricidade Humana (Faculty of Human Kinetics) and the Faculdade de Arquitectura (Faculty of Architecture).

Presently UTL is one of the largest Portuguese Universities with around 1 900 faculty members, 900 non teaching staff, 19 000 students enrolled in Undergraduate courses, and 3000 graduate students involved in Postgraduate programs.

At the moment, UTL is implementing the Bologna Process, which will be totally accomplished at the beginning of 2007. Three of its Seven Schools have already adopted the First and the Second Cycles: Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, e Instituto Superior Técnico.

In a rich and varied research environment all university activities are aimed for the promotion, development and transmission of scientific, technical and artistic knowledge in a wide range of study areas, including natural and exact sciences, engineering, social and economical sciences and artistic studies.
 
UTL offers to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students a stimulating learning environment, providing the students with sound education and professional skills adequate to today’s society needs in a world of internationalisation and global competition.