On 6 March last, another plenary session on the topic of the merger between the Classical and the Technical Universities of Lisbon was held at Aula Magna at the initiative of FMUL’s Director, Professor José Fernandes e Fernandes.

This was part of a series of meetings that have been undertaken within the community of both universities involving managers, lecturers, students, researchers, and staff.

Widely participated, it was attended and presided by the Rectors of both universities, Professors António Sampaio da Nóvoa and António Cruz Serra, by Professor João Lobo Antunes, as the Coordinator of the Working Group of the UL, and by Professor Fernandes e Fernandes. The Directors of various faculties of the two universities were also present, in addition to lecturers, staff, and students.

The discussion was based on the working paper written last January that resulted from the joint work of the leaders of the two Universities, with the support of their General Councils and Senates.

The session was characterised by a lively and participative discussion in an atmosphere of general optimism and expectations with regard to a project that is believed to bring growth and improvement for this academic community, and to the teaching and research in general in our country.

Among the potential advantages of the project, whose origins must be attributed to both rectors, the following stand out: the complementary of the educational provision, the boost to research from a multi-disciplinary perspective, inter-institutional cooperation in its various aspects, a more effective fight against dispersion of resources, and better capacity to attract students, researchers and lecturers, both nationally and internationally.

Several questions were asked about how the merger will be made and some issues about it were raised, such as the autonomy of some faculties, funding, and the sharing of resources and working tools. These discussions will continue to be held, since, as both rectors stressed, the entire academic community shall be involved in one of the most demanding processes that our community is currently facing.

Editorial Team
news@fm.ul.pt