In total, Técnico will welcome 369 students this semester – 303 from European countries (Germany, France, Italy and Spain), 66 from non-European countries (the most represented countries are Chile, Brazil, Argentina and India).
The Orientation Week, organised by the Student Support Unit (NAPE) – takes place simultaneously with the Welcome Week, organised by the Mobility and International Cooperation Office (NMCI) – started last Wednesday, March 2, and will continue during the weekend. These activities provide important information, stimulate the contact between students and Técnico, share tips/advice on how to overcome difficulties that may arise during student mobility and ensure rapid integration. The reception and visit to the campuses took place on different days. More than 260 students took advantage of this opportunity and came to the campus, getting involved in the various activities.
Leonardo Souza comes from the University of São Paulo, and he is very excited for starting a new journey. “I believe that this will be the biggest challenge of my life so far”, he says. “I chose Lisbon because I always wanted to travel to Portugal and Europe. I believe that Portugal is a safer environment for Brazilians, as we speak the same language. However, I can have contact with people from all over the world here”, he adds. Some of his friends experienced student mobility at Técnico and the feedback was very good.
“I am the first person in my family to come to Europe. I had never been on a plane before. This was my first time flying”, he says. “I loved the campus tour and I met very nice people”, he shares.
Leonardo Souza hopes will attend the master’s degree in environmental engineering. “I want to learn more about sustainability/ESG [Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance]. I want to understand how it is approached in Portugal and Europe”.
The “Welcome Ceremony” took place on Friday morning, March 4, in virtual format. The Vice president of Técnico for Research and International Affairs, professor Fátima Montemor, welcomed the new students. “Técnico is a School for the World, and that is why we are so happy to welcome you this semester. You will experience an academically challenging environment with brilliant colleagues”.
The Vice-president of Técnico shared important information about the School, namely its positioning in the various international rankings, the various fields of research, the strong commitment to technology transfer, and the wide training offer in the various cycles, inviting students to return later to continue their training.
Luís Moreira, coordinator of the NMCI, and the NAPE students shared important information about student mobility.
The Orientation Week continues throughout the weekend with cultural activities and a welcome dinner.
