The XPAND-IT scholarship signing ceremony took place last Friday. This merit-based scholarship is intended for Técnico students whose social situation justifies the granting of a scholarship. This year, the XPAND-IT scholarship was awarded to Pedro Lopes.

Rui Maia, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Xpand-it, an information technology company founded by former students of Computer Engineering at Técnico, said that “since its creation”, the “company” always had strong corporate social values”. “We decided to extend our programme to cover education in a more structured way, by providing a scholarship for a student who needs it.”

XPAND-IT also ensures a regular follow up of the awarded throughout training process. According to professor Luís Caldas de Oliveira, vice-president of Técnico for Entrepreneurship and Corporate Relations “taking students’ financial conditions into account is very important”. Rui Maia agrees “We think that it is a differentiating factor”.

Professor Jorge Morgado, vice-president of Técnico for the Academic Affairs, also attended the event noting that in recent years there has been a “growing number of students dropping out university due to weak financial conditions”. “This scholarship will help to reduce dropout rates.”