On the morning of 30 May, everyone crossing the Main Building’s Atrium at Técnico – Alameda Campus was greeted with a boarding pass. On the loudspeakers, the sound of a flight call recreated the atmosphere of an airport terminal. It was the symbolic boarding of International Day 2025, an initiative that, since 2008, has brought the Técnico community closer to the many opportunities for academic and professional mobility across borders.
During the event, students, professors and administrative staff had the chance to make direct contact with more than 15 international institutions. Under the motto ‘international opportunities’, the exhibition space provided an opportunity to learn about mobility programmes, double degree programmes, internships and other forms of cooperation. Throughout the day, participants were able to clear up doubts, compare destinations and gather information for future applications.
“Nowadays, it’s impossible to think of higher education without considering its international dimension. We are a school for the world, so investing in good internationalisation is part of our daily mission”, says Luís Moreira, coordinator of the International Affairs Area at Técnico.
In a propitious environment for discovery and planning, the event was organised around exhibition stands representing the various international institutions and mobility programmes. “The International Day allows participants to speak face-to-face with representatives from universities all over Europe and beyond. Sometimes they come with a concrete idea, other times they discover new options while talking”, says Paula Lopes, from the International Mobility and Partnerships Office.
For many students, this was an opportunity to plan the next step; for others, a first contact with mobility programmes. “It’s different to see something on the internet or talk to someone who works at the university and can give you information about the university and the city. This direct contact really helps us to clear up any doubts”, says Ana Campos, a 3rd year Electrical and Computer Engineering student at Técnico, who, along with her colleagues, is considering an Erasmus programme in Italy.
“The most important thing about this event was the international co-operation between universities. It’s a very important European idea and here I felt that idea coming to life,” says Katarzyna Smolny, from Wroclaw University of Economics and Business. ‘Poland is a popular destination for Portuguese students, just as Portugal is for Polish students, and it’s essential to maintain this connection to strengthen academic cooperation between our countries.’
The event also marked the end of International Staff Week, which ran from 26 to 30 May. For five days, around 120 representatives from foreign higher education institutions participated in themed sessions and visits, and shared good practices.
