For 2010 the aim of the Advanced Training Institute (IFA) is to consolidate its position as a nationwide-renowned advanced training organism in the fields of medicine biomedical sciences and health sciences and technologies.

In order to do this the IFA is concentrating its technical and administrative support on the processes of accreditation of Masters and PhD courses for the 2010/2011 academic year.

This process started with the accreditation of new study cycles carried out by the Agency for the Evaluation of Higher Education (A3ES) to be implemented in the 2010/2011 academic year, of note among which is the PhD programme at the Lisboan Academic Medical Centre.

In the prior accreditation process seven processes for creating Masters and one for a PhD were presented to the A3ES.

In the ongoing process of preliminary accreditation, taking place until the 31st of March, eleven Masters courses and three PhDs are being prepared to be sent to the A3ES.

This accreditation process, although it is complex from the scientific and administrative viewpoint, is absolutely essential, and without it the faculty will be unable to lecture its courses.

We believe that the mission set out by the IFA aims at guaranteeing the quality and excellence in teaching that the A3ES is implementing with this accreditation process. Although this is extra work and effort for all of us teachers and technical staff at the IFA, we think that the result will be an increase in quality and transparency in post-graduate teaching, in which the students will benefit.

It is now important to reflect upon the work carried out and to rethink new administrative models that are better suited to the increasing demands of teaching and research.

Together, and with the principle of commitment to fulfilling the institutional agreement for the IFA, we will work towards the scientific development and constant academic updating of the whole teaching and student community of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon.

Advanced Training Institute
Professor António Vaz Carneiro
instfa@fm.ul.pt