A rehabilitation project of the swimming pool at Alameda campus, a commitment to the Taguspark campus, a reinforced presence in educational policy and the bylaws revision – these are the main priorities of António Jarmela, the new president of the Técnico Students’ Union (AEIST).
António Jarmela completed the Undergraduate Programme in Mechanical Engineering (with an average grade of 17), and now he is attending the 2nd year of the Master’s Programme in Aerospace Engineering. He took office on 13 November 2024. In this interview, he shares the goals he will pursue during his mandate and his vision for the future of AEIST.
He has been a member of AEIST since his first year at Técnico. In his second year, he became a member of the General Board of the Lisbon Academic Federation, which “has changed his perspective on student movements” and inspired him to “dedicate even more time to it”.
“For many of those who study here, AEIST is a second home”, shares António Jarmela, who sees the students’ union “on an upward path”. His candidacy for AEIST’s presidency came about “because I believe I have something to give to this institution” – the student wants to favour a course of “transparency”, “participation” and “influence”.
So, what will AEIST’s activity focus on in the future? “The Técnico community is constantly changing”, says António Jarmela, which is why he emphasises teaching methods, learning models, campus spaces and infrastructures. About the latter, “the focus is currently on study and meeting spaces”. The student also lists “a plan for the swimming pool” at Alameda campus, and intends to present “a rehabilitation project for that space”.
Still, on the subject of infrastructure, AEIST’s newly elected president speaks of “a commitment to Taguspark”, referring to the modernisation of this campus as one of the goals of his mandate. “In addition”, he adds, “we are looking to intensify our presence and activity by building a stronger relationship with these students”.
On the horizon, he envisions “a revision of the Association’s bylaws”, an issue that has been on his mind for “several years” and one of his election promises. At the same time, the student hopes to see AEIST adopt a stronger stance on educational policy, with the launch of the book ‘Moção Global’, “which includes AEIST’s positions on all the issues related to Técnico and Universidade de Lisboa policies, thus playing an active role in academia”.
Faced with an abstention rate of over 90% in the last AEIST elections, António Jarmela appeals to the academic community. “The teaching model, academic terms, assessment regulations, social action policies (e.g. meals price), tuition fees and everything in our School and Universidade de Lisboa is decided by elective bodies”, he recalled. In this sense, he believes that the “disconnection of the student community from these bodies must be seriously combated”.
In his opinion, the statutory revision he is now proposing could “increase student participation, as one of the biggest obstacles at the moment is the timing of the elections”. “More important than that”, he continues, “is connecting the community to AEIST, which is also being done – this could be the year in which we see a significant growth of ‘Secções Autónomas’ (AEIST’s membership structures)”, which would “enhance AEIST’s democratic participation” in student life.
