“This is an unforgettable step in your academic career”, said Armando Jorge de Carvalho, Chairman of the Board of Directors, adding that this new cycle “requires dedication, motivation, discipline and, essentially, attitude” so that the students can “look forward to a solid and prosperous future”.

He stressed that this year, Universidade Portucalense has again increased (in 15%) the number of students enrolled compared to last academic year. For Armando Jorge de Carvalho, this is the result of the “recognition of the work done by a whole team, of faculty and non-teaching staff, which has contributed to the reinforcement of the prestige capital acquired by the institution, supported by a policy of quality and social responsibility”.

Such responsibility is assumed as a “permanent challenge”, and must be guided towards the “integral development of students with a strong sense of citizenship and committed to moral, ethical, social, scientific, and professional values, preparing them appropriately to contribute for the development of a more sustainable society”.

“This aim of ours must be matched by the new students, who should contribute to the consolidation of this UPT community as a space for intellectual growth and civic intervention,” he concluded.

Alfredo Marques, Rector of Universidade Portucalense, highlighted several aspects that make Universidade Portucalense a success case in Education in Portugal, stressing the university's close connection with the labour market, via the inclusion of curricular internships in the study plans and the organization of professional workshops, which “contributes to the high employability rate of students”. He also stressed that the university looks beyond Portugal: “We are not training professionals for the local market, we are training them for the global market”.

He concluded by challenging students to live college life in full. “University is not just academic work; it is a spirit and an environment in which cultural, sporting and recreational activities are important. It is a global experience. So, enjoy our social environment and our campus which, as you have seen, is pleasant and enjoyable. Be happy at Portucalense!”

The ceremony was also marked by the awarding of the prizes from partners “O Informador Fiscal” and “Brandzone”, and of the UPT quality and merit scholarships to students who stood out for their good academic performance in the academic year 2018-2019. The ceremony was closed with a performance by the Tuna Feminina and Tuna Académica.

During the morning of September 20, the new students were challenged to become agents of change by Isabel Loureiro, Executive Coordinator of the Guimarães 2030 Mission Structure, and Nuno Silva, from the Landscape Laboratory.

Isabel Loureiro stressed that “the planet has depleted its available natural resources in May. Since then, we have been living on loans. We are dilapidating the future generations’ planet. We are mortgaging the future. You are the generation that will save the world. No-one can change the world alone, but we can do it if we work together”, she concluded.

As for Nuno Silva, he shared an alarming reality, translated into figures: “13 million cigarette butts are produced daily worldwide, of which 65% end up on the floor. It takes about 7-8 years for a cigarette butt to be fully degraded; and 2 cigarettes equals 1 litre of sewage.” One of the projects he leads is precisely aimed at giving cigarette butts a new life. It is called “e-brick”, and it incorporates cigarette butts in ceramic bricks, thus turning the butts into a sustainable building material.

After the conference, students left the university and went to collect garbage (cigarette butts and plastic) in the Asprela area for the “e-brick” project. “We all can save the planet, if each one of us takes a small step.” Such is the challenge that RES-UPT, the promoter of this event, leaves to all students.

The award-winning team proposes solutions to support the literacy process of deaf children using digital technology as a way to motivate younger learners. Thus, with an app that privileges storytelling, it is possible to teach sign language to deaf children. In a first phase, this project will be implemented in Colombia.

The award ceremony took place at Universidade Portucalense on September 26th, and was attended by Alfredo Marques, Rector of Universidade Portucalense, Claudio Colaiacomo, Vice-president of Global Academic Relations Elsevier, and two of the six authors: Leandro Flórez-Aristizábal, from Antonio José Camacho University, Colombia, and Fernando Moreira.

Artificial Intelligence is considered a reality that daily influences innovation, profitability of organizations, quality of life, and the comfort of citizens.

However, issues like ethics, privacy, security, and the new employment paradigm associated with Artificial Intelligence require “attention and concern”, to prevent “algorithms from overcoming human beings: technology must help Mankind, not replace it”.

It has been argued that data, considered to be “the big business of our time”, require urgent regulation and increased cybersecurity.

Speakers of this seminar were: Cristóvão Simão Ribeiro, member of the Portuguese parliament; Joaquim Torres, faculty member of Universidade Portucalense; Miguel Pereira, researcher at LAB2PT, University of Minho; and Miguel Oliveira, member of the Board of the Portuguese Psychologists’ Association. Miguel Ricou, faculty member of UPT, moderated the session.

It was with a piece of Schubert’s music, written by the Austrian composer on the brink of death, that Antonio Capelo began to share his thoughts on how art, as an “extraordinary communication,” can be a consolation in moments of pain and anguish, of thought and reflection.

He spoke of the creative act as a solitary one, which later becomes a public sharing: “There is no art without the other; a book or song does not exist if it is not read or heard by the other.”

He has played classical characters such as Sophocles’s Oedipus, Shakespeare’s Othello, or Molière’s Don Juan, and sees in them “the metaphor of life”, allowing us to “reflect, interrogate and discuss the issues of mankind, science, and religion.” And he admits: “one always carries the pain of interpreting and trying to understand the characters.”

The actor has no doubt that “theatre is a path of individual and collective construction,” helping us to decode the human condition and the time we live in. “Theatre is the place of restlessness and interrogation, inviting us to listen and reflect.”

Asked about the value and importance of truth, Antonio Capelo did not hesitate: “Seeking the truth is worthwhile. It is only by seeking the truth that we can master ourselves. And in the dark times we are living in, we must find new paths that lead to other paths, and art can help in this search and find.”

This seminar was part of the Eramus+ - ICM “Global Climate Change and Wine Tourism Strategic Responses” project, jointly developed by Universidade Portucalense and the State University of New York, Potsdam, marking the World Tourism Day and the European Heritage Day 2019.

The goal of the project is to stir a debate about the challenges facing the wine sector and contribute to finding solutions. Research has been directed at surveying the impacts of climate change on wine production and tourism, particularly on the more artisanal and traditional techniques.

“The results already point to noticeable impacts in various dimensions, such as the grade of the wine, the sugar content, solar effects or changes in vine training, in particular with the more traditional and artisanal methods. Another of the conclusions points to the disappearance of older training techniques, such as “ramadas”, “latadas” (both of them types of trellises) and “vinhas de enforcado” (using a living prop as a support for the vine), which are of great interest for tourists, for being typical and unique. Based on the results of this research, the impacts of climate change will be identified and categorized in the Douro, Porto and Vinho Verde regions. What we propose right now is to think of effective and economically sustainable proposals to maintain and safeguard this rich, unique heritage that characterizes our wine regions and which can bring great added value for the attractiveness of tourism in rural areas,” says Isabel Freitas, Director of the Department of Tourism, Heritage, and Culture.

“Data scientists are the right professionals for analytical action, tailored approaches, relevant pattern detection, robust trend generation, knowledge creation automation, and structural organization to bring clarity to critical business strategies and increase competitiveness,” says Ana Rebelo, coordinator of the new master’s degree.

“With knowledge in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, data scientists develop cross-cutting competencies, highly valued by the market, with an impact on increasing corporate profitability and in various areas of society,” she adds.

It is estimated that the greatest impact should be on reducing public spending, predicting risks of disease, increasing communication with sign language applications, and autonomous cars (decreasing the number of accidents, and increasing the capacity to transport people with reduced mobility), among others.

Ana Rebelo also points out that on the largest US job and recruitment website, Glassdoor, “Data Scientist” is ranked first as one of the best professions in 2019, highly sought after by companies like Netflix, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and LinkedIn.

Comunica UPT: What led you to choose the degree in Law?
Tânia Nogueira: My academic background is a little 'sui generis'. When I entered the Law degree, I already had a degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Forensic Medicine, and I was starting a PhD program linked to Scientific Research. I felt, however, that this path was not fulfilling me professionally. The "bug" for Law was awakened when I took a Judicial Police Access Exam Preparation Course here at the UPT. Then, I started thinking about turning my life around 180 degrees. And so I did. The UPT was the most obvious choice for me, since I already knew the University and the faculty.

What is the secret of your academic success?
I'd say it starts by going to class and paying attention. Then, it is a lot of study, a lot of reading, reading several books and absolutely dissecting the text-books recommended by the teachers. I rarely studied using summaries; I complemented the book with my notes from classes, namely with examples given by the teachers.

What balance do you make of the Law degree?
The Law degree is very well structured. We feel that the teachers/professors are open, completely available for us, and are extremely competent. I also have to emphasize the fact that we have “Judicial Practice,” which is very useful and gives us an idea of how to elaborate procedural documents, something that most other universities do not offer, and that when entering the world of work is fundamental. The balance I make is therefore very positive. When I started working I realized that I have a good foundation, that the knowledge I have gained is truly essential.

What are the main difficulties and challenges you felt when entering the job market?
The world of work is very different, in that it requires more skills not only at the level of knowledge but also at the level of interpersonal relationships. It is not enough to know something about Law. Only when we go into practical reality do we realize if the path we are in is the one we want to pursue for the rest of our lives. I was fortunate enough to be part of an incredible law firm [Sociedade de Advogados Jorge Carneiro & Associados, SP, RL.], where I feel welcomed, settled, and, most importantly, always supported, and where I learn every day. So, I can say that challenges are always linked to new ways of looking at the same issue, from the point of view that we have to defend to the need to think ‘out of the box’. Regarding the difficulties, they are related to the management of the work we have to do, so as not to miss the deadlines set.

What did you learn these four years at UPT that you will never forget?
That we should never give up, that there is always a new dream to embrace and a way to go, that it is never too late to start over when we do not feel fulfilled, and that, with due dedication, everything is possible. I take with me many Law lessons, and also may life lessons, from the people I have met, some of whom I will surely have with me for life.

Have you thought about what you will buy with the prize money you have won?
Yes. In fact, I have already started to increase my library. The first acquisitions were two books that I had been meaning to buy for a long time: “O Código de Processo Penal Anotado,” by Paulo Pinto de Albuquerque, and “Lições de Director Penal”, by Manuel Cavaleiro Ferreira. I also want to buy the “Código de Processo Civil Anotado”, by Paulo Pimenta, António Geraldes and Luís Pires de Sousa, and I am looking for Vol. III of “Código de Processo Civil Anotado” by José Lebre de Freitas and Armindo Ribeiro Mendes. So, I plan to spend a good deal of the money on books I have always wanted to buy, but which, for financial reasons, always came second.

Life motto: “Where there is no calm, there is no reasoning”.

Book you are reading: "A última porta antes da noite", by António Lobo Antunes.

Birthplace: Fafe

Hobbies: Going to the gym and Krav Maga

A Law principle: Pacta sunt servanda