On January 16, the Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa community gathered once again at the Técnico Congress Centre (Alameda Campus) to share practices, processes, and experiences related to institutional quality. Nine initiatives developed at Técnico were recognised at the 9th meeting of Técnico Best Practices Observatory (ObservIST), recognising projects integrated into the quality management system and submitted throughout 2024. The session included the presentation of diplomas by Rogério Colaço, president of Técnico.
Creation of a Podcast from a critical review of a scientific paper, proposed by Teresa Heitor, a professor at Técnico, within the Space, Society and Culture curricular unit, was recognised as a best practice in the Education thematic field. The podcast served as a tool for critically reviewing scientific articles, promoting collaborative work, and communicating findings to non-specialised audiences in a classroom setting.
In the Communication thematic field, the Newsletter of the Department of Chemical Engineering (DEQ) was recognised for its role as a regular tool for disseminating information and connecting the departmental community. Additionally, the CEGIST Biennial Report 2021–2022 and the CEGIST Researcher Snapshot: Meet Our Team initiative from the Centre for Management Studies of Instituto Superior Técnico (CEGIST) were highlighted for their integrated communication strategy, which combines public reports and digital content to enhance visibility for the research unit and its researchers.
The link between academia, innovation and students’ career paths was visible in two initiatives promoted by the Technology Transfer Division (TT) at Técnico. The E.Awards@Técnico competition was recognised for encouraging student participation in projects and curricular units related to entrepreneurship. The Técnico Alumni Mentoring programme, operating since 2017, established mentoring relationships between alumni and students, using a model that combines a proprietary matching algorithm with human monitoring.
Internationalisation emerged as a cross-cutting theme in the other thematic fields recognised. The Internationalization@Home programme at Técnico was recognised for its structured approach to internationalization within the School itself, through training activities carried out throughout the year. The International Focus Group, developed by the International Admissions Office, stood out for its approach to welcoming and integrating international students through proximity, collaboration and feedback collection. The Staff Training Days enhanced these practices by promoting the exchange of experiences and strengthening international relations among services and partner institutions.
Jorge Morgado, vice-President of Técnico for Quality, Planning, Operations and Health, and president of the School’s Quality Management Council, described the Observatory as a “structured space for sharing and organisational learning”, highlighting its importance in accreditation processes and the continuous improvement of the School’s performance. Regarding the recognised practices, he noted that “they effectively respond to the specific needs of the academic community and create a sustainable impact, with potential for application in other contexts”.
Reflection on quality in Higher Education extended to the pedagogical and digital dimensions. Miguel Teixeira, president of the Pedagogical Council, highlighted the importance of quality metrics and the renewal QUC surveys, considering them as “tools that not only validate practices, but also facilitate learning from those who implement them”. Sérgio Guerreiro, deputy director for Digital Transition, addressed the future of information at Técnico, emphasising digitisation, the Connect platform and the digital transition as a key strategic area for the School.
