University of Aveiro

University of Aveiro
Universidade de Aveiro
Latin: Universitas Alavariensis
Motto Theoria, Poiesis, Praxis
Type Public University
Established 1973
Rector Manuel António Assunção[1]
Administrative staff
 927
Students 12,584 (2008)[2]
Location Aveiro, Portugal
Campus Urban, 92 hectares (227.3 acres)
Colours White and green
Affiliations Campus Europae, EUA, ECIU, ESDP-Network, UNIMED
Website www.ua.pt

The University of Aveiro (Portuguese: Universidade de Aveiro) is a public university, in addition to providing polytechnic education, located in the Portuguese city of Aveiro. Formed in 1973 creation, it includes a student population of approximately 12,500, distributed among 58 graduate, 40 Masters of Science and 25 PhD programs, distributed by departments and autonomous sections, with specialized faculties. It is an Research & Development university, with research departments developing programmes in fundamental and applied mathematics, physics, chemistry, telecommunications, robotics, bioinformatics, sea sciences, materials, design, business administration and industrial engineering.

The main campus and nearby Administration and Accounting Institute, are located in the city centre of Aveiro. There are external/regional campuses in Águeda (Higher Education Technological and Management School of Águeda) and Oliveira de Azeméis (Higher Education School of North Aveiro). It serves as a pole for the inter-university Doctoral program, along with the universities of Porto and Minho. Its integrated Masters in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering was the first Portuguese IT oriented European Accredited Engineering Masters (EUR-ACE) by the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education.[3]

History

The main concourse between department blocks at the main campus
The University of Aveiro central campus area with colonnades and department buildings.
The Geosciences department at the University
The rectory building at the University

On 15 December 1973, at the inaugural speech of Professor José Veiga Simão, then Minister of National Education (Portuguese: Ministro da Educação Nacional) the new rector, stated:

"In the peaceful construction of the future and in defense of sacred and enduring values, here will rise the University of Aveiro.[4]

Announced in a speech at the Museum of Aveiro, the event was held to mark the first meeting of the commission establishing the University of Aveiro, that included José Simão and other members of academic society and Aveiro.[4] The first pedagogical and scientific activities began in 1974, with first days classes in the telecommunication course, comprising 46 students.[4]

The licentiate courses established at the University of Aveiro (UA) were the first courses in innovative areas, that were not explored by traditional universities at the time in Portugal, but important to regional or national initiatives.[4] By 1976 there were courses in environmental science and education, natural sciences and education, mathematics and education, Portuguese-English and education and Portuguese-French and educaiton. The student population included 338.[4] It was only in that year that the first infrastructure were established in the area later known as the University Campus of Santigao (Portuguese: Campus Universitário de Santiago).[4]

During the 1977-1978 lecture year, there was a proposal to create a pilot project: the first Centro Integrado de Formação de Professores (CIFOP), today the Integrated Unit for Continuing Education (Portuguese: Unidade Integrada de Formação Continuada, UINFOC), in the country.[4] At UA, the intention was to establish a training institute for professors/teachers, from infant education to secondary school, using the latest pedagogical resources and innovative methods. The project was headed by Professor João Evangelista Loureiro, the former vice-rector at UA.[4]

A period of consolidation occurred at the university in the 1980s, resulting in internal regulation and the creation of fundamental bodies (during the mandate of the second rector Dr. José Mesquita Rodrigues) as well as the conclusion of the purchase of lands for the campus, later completed during the mandate of Dr. Renato Araújo.[4] By the end of the 1980s (specifically 24 September 1988), the law for university autonomy, permitted the consolidation of the university organic laws, and homologation of the university statutes, in June 1989.[4] Meanwhile, a team coordinated by architect Nuno Portas, had begun selecting among various prestigious Portuguese architects in 1986 to design the Santigao University Campus, that fell in line with their attempt to harmonize the structures with the architectural heritage of the city.[4] Many of the buildings, therefore, were designed by internationally recognized architects, among them: Alcino Soutinho, Álvaro Sisa Vieira, Pedro Ramalho, Luís Ramalho, José Maria Lopo Prata, Eduardo Souto Moura, Adalberto Dias, Rebello de Andrade, Jorge Kol de Carvalho, Gonçalo Byrne and Figueiredo Dias, whose works have annually been visited by national and international specialists.[4] By the mid-1980s teaching had expanded with innovative courses in Environment, Industrial Management, Music, Tourism, Chemical Industry and New Technologies.[4]

The 1990s was marked by a new phase at UA, with priorities redefined to position the university towards internationalization and cooperation, namely European programs, reinforcing relationships with Portuguese-speaking and Latin states, and building protocols between international institutes, organs and companies abroad.[4] In parallel there were initiatives in continuing education, distance learning and improving student satisfaction and quality.[4] In 1994, an Internet search engine, SAPO, was created in this university. Since 1998, the University has been developing an ecological motor vehicle, Ícaro, aiming to run the largest distance with the smallest amount of consumed fuel, having participated in the international competition Shell Eco-marathon.

During the second mandate of the fourth rector, Dr. Júlio Pedrosa, the student population was 8000, and the university had the most number of internationally recognized programs.[4] During 25th anniversary celebrations, UA advanced with the integration of polytechnical study into early training programs. The creation of the Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Águeda (in 1997), the integration of the Instituto de Contabilidade e Administração de Aveiro (in 1999), the implementation of the Escola Superior de Saúde (in 2000), and the implementation of a polytechnical school in the northern district, the Escola Superior Aveiro-Norte], was part of this process of integration.[4] In 2012-13, it was ranked 351-400 in the Times Higher Education World University rankings. Rankings[5]

The first mandate of its sixth rector, Dr. Maria Helena Nazaré, was marked by the start of professional program in technology (2002-2003). Since 2009, it has hosted a SexLab aimed at studying sexual health.[4]

Culture

The University hosts 3810-UA, a weekly national public television program.

In mid-spring, a one-week break from formal studies is allowed, wherein anyone may participate in academic activities, concerts or Enterro do Ano, a local academic parade.

The University is a regular participant or organizer of robotics inter-university or inter-school competitions, i.e.: Micro-Rato (hardware robotics) and Cyber-Rato (behavioral software). In 2008, one of its teams won the Robocup world competition, in China.

The University occasionally organizes mathematics competitions, mostly aimed at pre-university level students.

University Campus Santiago

The university architecture is modern, with more than 25 buildings.

As an organization, the university is composed of departments (one of them built by Eduardo Souto de Moura), autonomous sections, research units, administrative and service facilities, a library (built by Álvaro Siza), a mediateque, a field track, a multisports building with gym, a residential complex, green spaces, ecological spots and parking lots. The rectory (built by Gonçalo Byrne) is located in a white building near the campus centre.

The campus also has an entire Administration and Accounting Institute, which has its own service facilities and parking lots.

List of studies

Research Web page

Research Units

The university hosts on its premises four associated laboratories (Associated Laboratories)

Minor Research Units
  • Centro de Biologia Celular - CBC
  • Centro de Estudos em Optimização e Controlo - CEOC
  • Centro de Investigação em Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores - CiDTFF
  • Centro de Investigação em Educação e Ciências do Comportamento-CIECC
  • Centro de Línguas e Culturas - CLC
  • Geobiociências, Geotecnologias e Geo-engenharias - GEOBIOTEC
  • Institute of Electronics and Telematics Engineering of Aveiro (IEETA)
  • Matemática e Applicações - MA
  • Pólo de Aveiro do Instituto de Etnomusicologia - Centro de Estudos de Música e Dança - INET-MD
  • Pólo de Aveiro do Centro de Estudo das Tecnologias e Ciências da Comunicação-CETAC.MEDIA
  • Química Orgânica de Produtos Naturais e Agroalimentares - QOPNA
  • Tecnologia Mecânica e Automação - TEMA
  • Unidade de Investigação em Governança, Competitividade e Políticas Públicas-GOVCOPP
  • Pólo de Aveiro do ID+ Instituto de Investigação em Design, Media e Cultura

Student groups

Faculty and alumni

See also

References

External links

Coordinates: 40°37′49″N 8°39′27″W / 40.6303°N 8.6575°W / 40.6303; -8.6575

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