FMUL News
Letter to a teacher at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon
Dear Colleague and Friend
The elections are the culminating point of the transformation that the new law for universities has imposed; for three decades the Faculty had been carrying out its duty with a noble spirit and civic responsibility, and punctually keeping to schedules, guaranteeing its universality and stimulating participation on the part of teachers, technicians and students.
It is a difficult and generous task that is misunderstood by many people given its multiple business, its teaching, hospital and scientific obligations, and the governing of its units, which need daily concern in order to ensure their quality. At this precise turning point, in which the University is adopting new clothing, maintaining its Alma Mater, facing legal and budgetary difficulties, it is important to understand the key aspects of this change.
1 – We are going from a broad and equal assembly to a more restricted one, with less weight for the student body and the technical workers, which, for a Medical Faculty open to the world and to innovation, is a difficult challenge.
2 – We are maintaining a Pedagogical Council with responsibilities not only in the phase of concept-making but also in the formulation of the precepts of daily harmonious co-existence, guaranteeing a calm environment and teacher dedication to their students, which is a main characteristic of quality schools that are faithful to the tradition of Esculapius and noble Endovelicus.
3 – As to the former Scientific Council, there is undoubtedly an enormous change: it is no longer the “brain” or ideologue of the school and becomes a consultative organ for the Direction and the Director of the School. There is no council of PhDs (the former plenary assembly), but an indirect representation of PhDs. I believe that the Direction, the Director and the president of the Pedagogical Council will find ways of mobilizing the teachers in general and the PhDs in particular, respecting the free creativity of the groups and different nuclei of the school that represent the lungs of this beautiful city.
Prof. Doutor Luciano Ravara
President of the Electoral Committee
The elections are the culminating point of the transformation that the new law for universities has imposed; for three decades the Faculty had been carrying out its duty with a noble spirit and civic responsibility, and punctually keeping to schedules, guaranteeing its universality and stimulating participation on the part of teachers, technicians and students.
It is a difficult and generous task that is misunderstood by many people given its multiple business, its teaching, hospital and scientific obligations, and the governing of its units, which need daily concern in order to ensure their quality. At this precise turning point, in which the University is adopting new clothing, maintaining its Alma Mater, facing legal and budgetary difficulties, it is important to understand the key aspects of this change.
1 – We are going from a broad and equal assembly to a more restricted one, with less weight for the student body and the technical workers, which, for a Medical Faculty open to the world and to innovation, is a difficult challenge.
2 – We are maintaining a Pedagogical Council with responsibilities not only in the phase of concept-making but also in the formulation of the precepts of daily harmonious co-existence, guaranteeing a calm environment and teacher dedication to their students, which is a main characteristic of quality schools that are faithful to the tradition of Esculapius and noble Endovelicus.
3 – As to the former Scientific Council, there is undoubtedly an enormous change: it is no longer the “brain” or ideologue of the school and becomes a consultative organ for the Direction and the Director of the School. There is no council of PhDs (the former plenary assembly), but an indirect representation of PhDs. I believe that the Direction, the Director and the president of the Pedagogical Council will find ways of mobilizing the teachers in general and the PhDs in particular, respecting the free creativity of the groups and different nuclei of the school that represent the lungs of this beautiful city.
Prof. Doutor Luciano Ravara
President of the Electoral Committee