Seminar on Administrative and Technological Modernization at ULisboa
20 March, Rector’s Office of ULisboa 

The seminar on Administrative and Technological Modernization at ULisboa was held on 20 March at the Rector’s Office of ULisboa. It was attended by the Rector of the University of Lisbon, Professor António Cruz Serra, by the President of the Coordinating and Regional Development of Lisbon and Tagus Valley Committee, Professor Eduardo Brito Henriques, by the President of the Executive Council of the Agency for Administrative Modernization, I.P., Dr Paulo Neves, by the Pro-Rector of the University of Lisbon, Professor Carlos Ribeiro, and by the Vice Rector of the University of Lisbon, Professor Rogério Gaspar.

In 2011 we started an Administrative Modernization Programme materialized in two applications to the Administrative Modernization Support System (SAMA) at the University of Lisbon. This project was promoted by the former UL in partnership with ESEL, and the initiatives only involved the two institutions. With the merger of the former UL and UTL, we now face the challenge of pursuing this standardization in a much bigger scale.

In his presentation “The Regional Development of Lisbon and Tagus Valley within the next EU Framework”, Professor Eduardo Brito Henriques emphasized that the simplification of procedures and investing in new information technologies is the main strategy in European development. The investment on Digital Economy, by simplifying procedures, will increase the global competitiveness of society and will reduce costs of context.

Dr Paulo Neves highlighted the fact that Portugal is “on top of international e-governing”. In 2013 the country received the European Prize for Innovation in Public Administration, for the project Licenciamento Zero (Zero Licensing), and is ahead in some administrative modernization procedures (simplification of processes, services and e-government). He also noted that Administrative Modernization is basically anchored on five major areas: innovation, communication, internationalization, knowledge, and open administration. With regard to Higher Education projects for the SAMA European funding, 14% of projects had their incentive approved, while 15.2% had their incentive executed. His presentation was on the topic “Balance of Administrative Modernization in AP-QREN 2007-2013”. 
Professor Carlos Ribeiro presented the “Administrative Modernization Project at the University of Lisbon” as a topic that is “essential in the process of the creation of ULisboa.” SAMA1 (2011-2013) funded the simplification and integration of information processes and systems, with the aim of simplifying and dematerializing processes, implementing online management and information models and dematerializing internal and external communication. With a total investment of € 3M, it had funding in the amount of € 1.7M for a total target audience of 60.000 people. With a new administrative modernization strategy for the university and the motto “from Lisbon to the World”, the aim is to create modernization “at home and export it to our partners.” There are four strategic areas: use of open source software, use of crowd sourcing software, developing industrial partnerships and establishment of research and development projects. The main objective is “to create a new shared identity”.

Professor Rogério Gaspar ended the session stressing that the diversity of schools and the academic offering of the University is its greatest asset. Through the building of consortia and shared platforms, efficiency from an academic and administrative perspective will be guaranteed. The University is making great strides in administrative modernization, with the dematerialization of processes and ease of access to information being essential to the productivity of students and employees.
 

Editorial Note
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