The ATHENS programme took place from 12th to 19th November, aiming to carry out intensive specialisation courses within ATHENS network universities, also including several cultural events.

This semester, four courses were lectured at Técnico: “Operational Research”, “e-lab – Remotely controlled physics laboratories”, “From Urban to Human Scale: Learning from Lisbon Renovation Experiences – LISBON’UR” and “Value Proposition Design for Startups in Sustainable Energy”. The cultural events were organised by NAPE – Student Support Unit.

Catarina Oliveira, Catarina Rocha and Samuel Franco, from NAPE, were responsible to host about 90 participants in this edition. According to these three students, what distinguishes the participants of ATHENS programme is the “intensity” with which they enjoy the experience. “They enjoy this experience much more intensely because it all happens in a short space of time”, explains Catarina Rocha.

All participants have the opportunity to visit Belém and Castelo de São Jorge, Cristo-Rei, Sintra, Guincho and Cabo da Roca, while experiencing traditional Portuguese food. According to Samuel Franco “there are a lot of places that I’ve never been until now and these cultural visits help us to get a different idea of the city”.

For participants and NAPE students, these cultural exchange provides added value to this Programme. Catarina Oliveira noted that “each student has a story to tell”. “I think these experiences are very fruitful.” And it’s also a way of showing Técnico around the world: “Last semester, a student who enjoyed so much this experience applied to Erasmus and will be studying here next semester. This is undoubtedly one of the best ways to show Técnico and the city of Lisbon”, said Catarina Rocha.