Lecture by Prof. António Magalhães Cunha - ALLEA Scientific Symposium 2015

Summary

The speaker presents an overview of the University of Braga in northern Portugal, highlighting its historical significance, academic structure, and research achievements. With over 22,000 people, including 19,000 students, the university emphasizes science, technology, and comprehensive education. It maintains strong international partnerships, robust research centers, and a commitment to open-access publications. The university actively engages with industry, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development, while also supporting culture, sports, and heritage. Looking forward, it aims to expand internationalization, multidisciplinary research, and open innovation, all under a framework of societal development, autonomy, and academic excellence.

Takeaways

• 😀 The university is located in the northern part of Portugal and has a rich history dating back to Roman times, playing a key role in the nation's education system.
• 😀 The university has a student population of about 22,000 people, including 19,000 students, faculty, and administrative staff.
• 😀 The institution is focused on science and technology, with schools of Science and Engineering making up 50% of its academic structure.
• 😀 The university maintains a strong commitment to internationalization, partnering with universities in Europe, North America, China, and Portuguese-speaking countries.
• 😀 Research is a key priority, with 27 research centers, 15 of which are highly ranked for excellence, contributing to advancements in various fields like biotechnology, engineering, and medicine.
• 😀 The university is committed to open access, making all of its publications available through its institutional repository, which has gained significant international visibility.
• 😀 The university plays a vital role in economic development through applied research, partnerships with industries, and its focus on innovation, including successful collaborations with companies like Bosch.
• 😀 Entrepreneurship and fostering innovation among students are key priorities, with resources available to incubate new ideas and support the development of young companies.
• 😀 The university is also deeply committed to cultural heritage and offers a range of cultural activities to engage students and promote creativity.
• 😀 The university emphasizes the importance of university autonomy and diversity in supporting education and research projects across Europe, with a strong focus on creativity and entrepreneurship.

Q & A

Where is the university located?

The university is located in the north part of Portugal, in a historically significant city that was a Roman metropolis and a reference in Portuguese education.

How many students and staff does the university have?

The university community consists of approximately 22,000 people, including slightly more than 19,000 students, faculty, and administrative staff.

What are the main academic areas of the university?

The university is comprehensive but primarily oriented towards science and technology, with the School of Science and the School of Engineering covering about 50% of the university.

What international partnerships does the university maintain?

The university has international partnerships with universities in Europe, North America, China, and Portuguese-speaking countries, supporting internationalization and collaborative research.

How does the university engage in research?

The university has 27 research centers, 15 of which have outstanding or very good rankings. Research areas include medicine, science, and technology, with a strong focus on publication and international visibility.

What initiatives support entrepreneurship and innovation at the university?

The university has incubation facilities, programs for young companies, partnerships for financing, and market-oriented support to encourage students and staff to develop innovative ideas and products.

How does the university collaborate with industry?

The university partners with companies for applied research and technological development, exemplified by collaborations with major companies like Bosch on navigation systems for vehicles.

What cultural and sports activities does the university promote?

The university is involved in cultural heritage, orchestras, museums, and sports, aiming to provide students with a comprehensive cultural and social experience.

What is the university's approach to open access and scientific publication?

The university follows a clear open-access policy, contributing all publications to its institutional repository and supporting the Berlin Declaration on open access, increasing international visibility.

What are the university’s strategic priorities for the future?

Future strategies include internationalization, multidisciplinary research, engagement with society, support for creativity and entrepreneurship, open innovation, and alignment with regional smart specialization strategies.

How does the university view autonomy and diversity in higher education?

The university emphasizes the importance of university autonomy and diversity, which are seen as essential for supporting different education and research projects across Europe.