The programme Lean Foundation for Universities, launched in 2013 at Instituto Superior Técnico, aims “to complement common training curriculum and train graduates in Lean concepts”, enhancing “the ability to take action in real working environment”.
Over three months, students – mostly from areas related to Engineering, Management and Economics, both inside and outside Técnico – will have the opportunity to learn new concepts and to make the difference. “I intend to pass a wide range of knowledge, concepts and tools to the students of the course, so that they can be agents of change”, explains Sérgio Caldeirinha, coordinator of the course and founder of Lean Academy Portugal.
According to Sérgio Caldeirinha, “this course will provide students a new way of thinking: Knowing how to use each methodology will be brought to the fore”.
Carolina Santos, student of Mechanical Engineering at Técnico, decided to attend the course because she considers that “companies will increasingly need to optimise its human resources, and people with Lean skills are highly valued”. “The programme has met my expectations and it really changes our way of thinking”, she said.
In practice, the Lean Foundation programme (the most basic level, followed by Lean Exercises and Lean Six Sigma), comprises 32 teaching hours, with a Gemba Walk – a visit to a company, and an optional knowledge assessment in the end. This semester, Gemba Walk took place at SONAE’s facilities where students had the opportunity to analyse and discuss the improvements and upgrades carried out in the company.
Over the last three years, more than one hundred students have completed this introduction level of Lean methodology, and the number should just keep on growing. The courses will be held at Alameda campus and also at Taguspark campus. Applications and further information about the programme are available at Lean Academy Portugal website.
According to Sérgio Caldeirinha “Lean Academy Portugal will train its students in process management methodology and leadership”. “I would definitely recommend this course”, says Daniel Vasconcelos, student of Mechanical Engineering at ISEL.
