Composed of 15 members, the school board meets occasionally to discuss some matters important in the Faculty’s agenda. The Body responsible for the election of the Director has a supervisory role, assessing the plan of action proposed for the upcoming year, as well as those that have been implemented and fulfilled this year.

In November last, the Dean of the Faculty Fausto J. Pinto met with the School Board where he presented the Plan of Activities for 2019.

We talked to the dean Fausto J. Pinto and to the President of the School Board, José Ferro, to understand the main topics of the discussion and what resulted from this meeting.

José Ferro: I highlight you the issues that in the past were an obstacle to the progress with the Faculty and that have improved in this year’s balance: the relationship with HSM and that now stand on a frankly positive term; the approval of the Decree-Laws of University Hospitals; the reform of clinical education on which we will shortly have news; the approval of the document on optional subjects and the discussion of the final project of the Master’s program.

There are, however, several matters that remain an obstacle: the delay in the inauguration of the New Building (Reynaldo dos Santos); the maintenance of the latter numerus clausus; and the issue of the internationalization of the Faculty which remains blocked, because Medicine is the only group of schools for which there is no international student status. I believe this is a crucial matter for the long-term development of the School. Lastly, we have budget limitations, with the costs being predominately dominated by the payment of salaries, and the profit is highly dependent on the tuitions of the Integrated Master’s Program and thus, on their respective value.

Although we have here some maters that we consider obstacles to the progress of FMUL, they are, in their vast majority, foreign to the Institution itself, and even to the University. As for the Plan of Activities proposed by the Director of FMUL, Prof. Fausto Pinto, the Board has assessed his performance very positively. In that sense, it voted favourably by unanimity the plan of Activities for 2019.

Professor Fausto looking at the Plan of Activities for 2019 and now that it has been approved, which matters stand out to you?

Fausto Pinto: The plans that we have for 2019 are aligned with the objectives of the University, but looking at the Faculty’s case, they can very well be condensed into four large areas: to ensure the Excellence in Education, the promotion and innovation in Scientific Research, the revitalization and Internationalization of our External Relations and finally, Administrative modernization. Regarding the Excellence in Education, we have several developments that are already implemented and that shall be continued in 2019. We will focus extensively on what the reform of clinical teaching will be, which shield be concluded in the beginning of next year and ready for implementation by 2020. On the other hand, in what concerns post-graduate education, we have tried to diversify the offer to the maximum and, in that sense not only do we strengthen the expert courses, with masters and PHDs and with some new courses like Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Biomedical Research, but we have also invested in the strengthening of Medical Education, an investment that started in the first mandate and that shall continue in the next years. We will develop new strategies and create new activities. With regards to the second large area, that of innovation and Scientific Research, we will continue with the promotion of programs like that of Education for science, the research scholarships, stimulus to GAPIC, as well as to foster the participation of the Faculty as a promoting entity for both national and international research projects. In the field of Internationalization and External Relations we will continue to sponsor and strengthen ties with other universities, both in the european zone and outside of it. Continue to develop an organization of networks of Portuguese-speaking faculties and create a similar program to Erasmus directed to Portuguese-speaking countries. We will also continue the thematic networks that we are already part of with the University of Lisbon, but also include two new networks, the recent space network, and the promotion of a project that aims at the implementation of programs towards healthy lifestyles titled “Por uma Universidade Sustentável” (For s Sustainable University). We will implement the Citizen Council which aims to promote greater engagement of civil society with the Faculty. Finally, in the Administrative field we will continue to develop and integrate plans throughout the year.

But there are several other important topics. The opening of the new Building Reynaldo dos Santos. I hope to be able to inaugurate the Building in the 1st trimester of 2019 where several activities that fall into the key strategic guidelines of the Faculty shall take place. I speak about the pedagogical field, as well as the research and incubation fields, and also the creation of spaces that can provide stimulus to the incubators and start-up’s. We are also looking to inaugurate the Aula Magna (Great Hall) which should be ready in the beginning of the year and shall be a modern and rehabilitated space. We always aim to modernize our Faculty”.

Joana Sousa

Editorial Team