Campus and Community

“We were waiting for you”: Técnico kicked off three days of welcoming thousands of new students

September 1stupdated on September 5th at 15:19

The Alameda and Oeiras campi were vibrant with activity, encounters, and discoveries during the first of three welcome days.

It was not yet 9 a.m. and a group of new students had already gathered at the door of the Técnico Innovation Center powered by Fidelidade, waiting for the welcome session. The first of three days dedicated to welcoming new students to Instituto Superior Técnico brought increased activity across the campi, which included first contacts with professors and mentors, and visits to the academic spaces that will accompany university life in the coming years.

For many students, this day was also their first arrival in Lisbon. Eduardo Sousa is from Viseu and he is now an undergraduate student in Engineering Physics. “I’ve always heard great things about Técnico. My father was a professor here and several friends study here. I think it’s the best school in the country to study engineering physics”, he shares.

As groups walked through the hallways and staircases, individual choices began to take shape. Sofia Dias learnt about Técnico through the ULisboa Summer Programme “Verão na ULisboa” and the Aerospace Week organised by the Aerospace Engineering Students’ Organisation (AeroTéc). She highlighted how these experiences influenced her decision to enroll in the Undergraduate Programme in Electrical and Computer Engineering: “I was already working on projects related to this programme, and when I participated in the activities at Técnico, I realised that this was the field of engineering I wanted to pursue.”

During the welcome session held in the early afternoon at the same location, Rogério Colaço, the president of Técnico, spoke directly to the new students: “Rooting for Técnico means finding a second home and a second family. Study hard, get involved in activities, and have fun too. Técnico cannot exist without you—this week is the time to root for Técnico and start becoming part of this community.”

Tiago Simões has enrolled in a Master’s Programme in Electrical and Computer Engineering after completing his undergraduate degree at another university in Lisbon. He is motivated by a desire to deepen his knowledge in the field of energy. “At Técnico, the connection between my undergraduate degree and this master’s programme is much stronger. I also plan to study abroad in Japan through partnerships available only at Técnico,” he explains.

Maria Beatriz Gabinhos, a new student in the Undergraduate Programme in Aerospace Engineering, described this first day with one word: “Fascinating”. Her choice was the result of a combination of personal interests and the prestige of the institution: “I am very interested in physics, mechanics, space, and research. Técnico is a very prestigious school, so I combined the two and enrolled in this programme.“ Regarding the future, she added: ”I expect it to be a very demanding journey, it will require a lot of work, but it will also be a lot of fun. I know I will meet many people and will be part of many projects. I hope I will succeed”.

The day included reunions for those who are already familiar with the academic routine and are now taking on the role of mentors. Carolina Antunes, a master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, emphasised the importance of the welcome session at the beginning of her journey: “In my first year, the welcome session was very helpful because I felt lost and had many questions. This year, I decided to be a mentor to assist as many students as possible.”

The activities included information sessions, sessions for new students’ families, guided tours, and initiatives organised by the students’ organisations and the Técnico Students’ Union, at Alameda campus, in Lisbon.

In Oeiras, the welcome programme kicked off with students from the Computer Science and Engineering and Electronics Engineering undergraduate programmes. Tiago, admitted to the Undergraduate Programme in Computer Science and Engineering, shared his connection to Técnico: “I had already planned to come to Técnico since the beginning of secondary school”, adding that the decision was also influenced by the institution’s reputation and his father’s advice. Constança, a newcomer to the same undergraduate programme, explained that her decision was based on the positive impression left by previous visits: “I liked Técnico, I had always heard good things about it, and it’s a modern campus. It’s a different experience, especially since I’m not from Lisbon, but it seems like an interesting school to me.”

The welcome activities at Técnico continue over the next few days, with new activities, energy, and more students arriving at the campi. Around 1,600 undergraduate students, 1,700 master’s students, and 980 international students, 900 of whom attend exchange programmes, arrive at Técnico for the new academic year.

On this first day, new students were welcomed to the following undergraduate and master’s programmes: