On May 8, the atrium of the Main Building at the Alameda Campus of Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, became a vibrant meeting place for students, professors, staff, and institutions from around the world. The 2026 edition of International Day (IDAY) once again brought together partner universities, cultural entities, and academic organisations with the common goal of “bringing the Técnico community closer to international opportunities for study, research, and careers”.
Joana Vital, a Materials Engineering undergraduate student at Técnico, walked the halls of the event looking for practical answers to a possibility that is beginning to take shape: “doing an Erasmus exchange in the second semester”. Austria stands out among the “top destinations”, both for industry-related opportunities and for the cultural experience. “I wanted to better understand the processes of student mobility and housing, as well as to discover what each university offers beyond the classroom”, she explained. “It’s different to search online or speak directly with someone who knows the programme.”
At the booths of international universities, attendees engaged in discussions about course equivalencies, research opportunities, internships, and teaching models. The State University of Campinas booth highlighted the longstanding relationship with Técnico, serving as a foundation for exploring new opportunities for cooperation. For Isabele Paes, a representative of the Brazilian university, initiatives like International Day help consolidate relationships built over many years. “There is a natural closeness due to language and culture, but above all because of the promotion of science and engineering”, she said. “The relationship with Técnico and Portuguese higher education continues to grow through mobility, research, and academic exchange”.
Marta Pimenta, a Materials Engineering master’s student at Técnico, explored PhD opportunities and research paths outside Portugal. Amid leaflets, notes, and quick conversations, she sought to understand research areas, funding conditions, and ongoing projects. “When we speak directly with people, we gain a much clearer sense of the university environment and the real opportunities available”, she explained. “It helps turn vague ideas into concrete options”.
In the space dedicated to international academic support programmes, the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) provided information to students interested in research stays in the United States. Among the most frequently asked questions were scholarships for scientific internships, short-term programmes, and support for participation in international conferences.
“Técnico community is very much in line with what we seek to support”, explained Fátima Fonseca, a FLAD representative. “We have programmes for students who want to undertake research stays, present scientific work, or establish contacts with U.S. universities and research centres”. For many students, the biggest challenge remains a lack of awareness of existing opportunities. “Part of our work is to show that financial support and accessible programmes are available”.
“Last year, I left here with contacts who really helped me clear up my doubts”, recalled Tomás Serafim, an Electrical and Computer Engineering master’s student at Técnico. Undecided between KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and CentraleSupélec in France, he was trying to figure out which institution “offered a closer connection to the business sector”. A year later, he returned to the event, accompanied by Daniel Ferreira, a classmate, revisiting the space where he began to define his academic path.
Still undecided, Daniel Ferreira toured the event, focused on comparing teaching models and financial aid options. “I’m looking for a university with a strong academic programme in my field and to understand what scholarships or financial aid might be available”, he said. For the student, direct contact with representatives and students from the institutions remains one of the key aspects of IDAY. “There are questions we can only ask in-person”, he concluded.
IDay also marked the closing of International Staff Week 2026, an initiative that, from May 4 to 8, brought together more than 130 representatives from international higher education institutions at Técnico. Throughout the week, participants from 23 countries participated in working sessions, workshops, visits, and cultural activities focused on academic cooperation and the sharing of experiences in the field of higher education internationalisation.
