‘I’d really like to study engineering’ – Francisca Carvalho, an 11th grade student, has already decided what she wants to do in higher education, with a special interest “in physics engineering”. That’s what brought her to Técnico exhibition stand at the 2025 edition of Futurália, which runs from 26 to 29 March, at the Lisbon International Fair. The event will be attended by dozens of Técnico students and professors who will share their academic experiences and the school’s training offer.
Before entering university, Sara Viegas felt intimidated by her schoolmates’ comments about Técnico. Still, after participating in outreach activities developed by the Student Support Office (NAPE) at her secondary school, she felt ‘reassured’. As soon as she started her Undergraduate Programme in Electrical and Computer Engineering, her insecurities dissipated – she had a ‘positive experience’ immersed in a ‘supportive environment’ and now she wants to give back the help that the NAPE students gave her in secondary school to students passing by the Futurália stand. She highlights the extracurricular activities, which she views as one of Técnico’s greatest strengths’. ‘The students’ organisations have a vibrant and active life’, she says.
A few steps away there was an example of that. One of the vehicles designed by Formula Student Técnico (FST) was next to the pavilion’s entrance. Margarida Piedade, a primary school teacher in the Lisbon area who was accompanying a 9th grade class, didn’t give up a few minutes to admire the model on display. ‘My son loves everything to do with Formula 1’ and “he’s trying hard to get into mechanical engineering”, she explained to the FST students. According to the primary school teacher, ‘Técnico is a place with a proven tradition and quality’. She believes that ‘the more demanding something is, the more it promotes learning’ and acknowledges that ‘there is excellent teaching quality at Técnico’, which she associates with ‘demanding and effective learning’.
Ivan Batista has already finished 12th grade and wants to study Civil Engineering at Técnico. He came to Futurália on Wednesday but will make a point of returning on Saturday, when all of Técnico’s courses will be on show, to find out more about the one he wants to get into. Some of his friends are already studying at Técnico and say that ‘it’s an incredible experience’. His maths tutor, for example, is studying for a Master’s Programme in Civil Engineering and praises the technical visits she’s been able to make as part of her course. Ivan came to Futurália to learn more about the school’s training offer and will attend the Técnico Open Day on 5 April, hoping to explore what is like to study at the country’s largest school of architecture, engineering, science and technology.
The conversation is interrupted by a noisy group of people who pass by. Some of them are journalists with cameras and microphones. In the centre of the entourage that was now passing the Técnico exhibition stand, Luís Marques Mendes, one of the presidential candidates, exchanged words with Matilde Passanha – a final year student of the Undergraduate Programme in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering – who shared that she is participating in Futurália to ‘explain what life is like at Técnico’ and ‘what options there are’ for new students.
On one of the tables set up around the space rested a skateboard with a layer of stone under another of cork. Curious looks from passers-by led André Neves, a second-year student of the Undergraduate Programme in Materials Engineering, to explain that the object had been made by Técnico students and professors from a material called ‘Stork stone’. This material, which is more flexible, lighter, more economical and better at thermal insulation than stone alone (but without sacrificing strength), has already been used in part of the external cladding at one of the entrances to the Hospital da Luz in Lisbon. André shared that he attended Futurália to share his experience as a Técnico student. In his opinion, the ‘excellence of the school’ is a significant advantage for students, as well as the ‘renowned opportunities they have with companies’ when searching for a job’.
Until 29 March, Técnico students and professors will be at Futurália to answer questions about the courses and the school’s training offer.
