For two decades the Tutoring Programme has been a tool for Técnico students to enhance their skills. The initiative, which assigns each student a tutor (who accompanies and advises them throughout their academic journey), celebrated its 20th anniversary with an event organised by the Academic Development Unit (NDA) at Instituto Superior Técnico.
The event took place at the Civil Engineering Building’s Congress Centre, on 27 October, with the aim of “providing an opportunity for reflection” and being “a space for sharing good practices and personal experiences [within the Programme]”. To this end, round tables and conversation sessions were organised involving professors from Técnico and other higher education institutions.
The opening session was chaired by by Rogério Colaço, president of Técnico, Luís Ferreira, rector of Universidade de Lisboa, Teresa Peña, president of the Pedagogical Council, and Isabel Gonçalves, coordinator of the NDA.
According to the president of Técnico, “these 20 years of the Tutoring Programme have been transformative, particularly in terms of welcoming and receiving first-year students. The programme allows a good transition from secondary school to Técnico, in a planned and monitored way”. Rogério Colaço also highlighted “Técnico has been a pioneer for several decades in its concern for the well-being, monitoring and integration of its students into the academic environment”.
During the day, several tutors (see programme) had the opportunity to share their experiences. Success stories were presented and suggestions were made for improving the initiative.
At the round table that brought together several tutors, some described the experience as “very rewarding” and “an asset for both professors and students”. The tutors’ motivation to be “a tool to help students develop their skills” was highlighted, with one of the professors recalling “we’ve already experienced this, and that’s essential to understand what we can do to help them”. At the end of the day, José Tribolet, a retired Técnico professor, said “Técnico is able to accompany and support each student individually throughout their academic journey, to provide them with the best tools to succeed”. At the end of his speech, he stressed the importance of this type of academic support initiative, “the country cannot disregard the quality of the young people who come to us – that is our responsibility”.
