Last Friday (20), the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) signed a Cooperation Protocol with the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (IPLeiria), Portugal. With an initial duration of five years, renewable, the agreement aims to establish and develop cooperative relations between the two institutions, enabling collaborations in areas of mutual interest.

The Polytechnic Institute of Leiria is a Portuguese public higher education institution recognized for covering a wide range of fields of knowledge, offering diverse opportunities for the development of joint academic and scientific projects. It comprises five schools: the School of Education and Social Sciences (ESECS), the School of Technology and Management (ESTG), the School of Arts and Design (ESAD), the School of Tourism and Maritime Technology (ESTM), and the School of Health Sciences (ESS).

The partnership foresees different forms of bilateral collaboration, including the shared use of human resources, technical means, and technological infrastructure for research, teaching, and training activities. It also includes the development of fundamental and applied research projects, whether jointly or independently, in areas of common interest.

In terms of academic mobility, the protocol provides for the exchange of undergraduate and graduate students, professors, researchers, and administrative staff, subject to specific agreements. It also includes joint participation in scientific, technological, and cultural events such as seminars, lectures, symposiums, and academic meetings.

The cooperation also includes the development of joint programs that may lead to double degrees, in accordance with each institution’s internal regulations, as well as co-supervision of master’s dissertations and doctoral theses, and participation in academic examination boards. The agreement also foresees joint research projects seeking national or international funding, and the development of continuing education programs in face-to-face, hybrid, or distance learning formats.

The partnership with the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria reinforces FURG’s commitment to internationalization and academic integration with leading institutions in Portugal, expanding opportunities for education, research, and cooperation for the university community.