The University of Lisbon (UL) is undergoing a process of external evaluation by the European University Association (EUA), which ends with the second visit by the assessors in September.
Before this phase, the University of Lisbon (UL), in the person of the Pro-Chancellor Ana Nunes de Almeida, will be promoting a cycle of debates entitled “The Self-Evaluation of the UL”, based on the UL Self-Evaluation Report that had previously been handed to the EUA and placed on the UL website (www.ul.pt). The cycle of debates aims at continuing a broad debate on the issues dealt with in the report: institutional context, mission and aims, constraints and opportunities, modes of organization and activities (management, teaching/learning and research, financing, quality guarantee).
The first debate was held on the 12th of May in the Chancellery Conference Room from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Its overall subject was “The Wellbeing of UL Students” and the speakers were: Bernardo Vidal (Academic Association), Luís Fernandes (Administrator of the Social Action Services) and André Caldas (member of the General Council). The session was presided over by the Chancellor, Professor António Nóvoa. The communications will be published, and as a consequence of this news the considerations that were the subject of debate and conclusions will be particularly taken into account.
The session began with a salutation from the Chancellor, who thanked Professor Ana Nunes de Almeida for all of her commitment to the process of Self-Assessment of the UL and in the creation of the Debate Cycle. Bernardo Vidal emphasised the need to involve recently-arrived students towards “teaching how to behave in higher education”, to “transmit individual and collective responsibility in university life to them”. He stressed that, given that the UL, like other state education institutions, does not interfere in the direct recruiting of first degree students. It may act, however, towards “creating greater prospects for attracting”, meaning “providing attractive conditions” such as “presenting modern curricula”.
Another aspect that received consensus among the audience and was reinforced by the Chancellor was that of the mobility of students within the UL institution. That aim demands effective communication in order to provide up-to-date knowledge about the methods of learning and information on all the systems of functioning of access and participation in the different modalities that exist. In short, the UL should not overlook its base training, the first degree. The meaning of the university based on research was a subject for reflection once again, with this not meaning that it should be transformed exclusively into research institutes, but rather into teaching based on what is done (researched) and in learning through doing.
The meaning of the title chosen for the debate was the subject of analysis by the second speaker, Dr. Luís Fernandes, who outlined the wellbeing of students in a more general manner, going beyond the Social Action Services. He gave the example of the libraries and learning places (dimensions presented in the UL Self-Evaluation Report and in the annexes to the report), the timetables of which, if they are extended, would allow everyone to use them, particularly those who are from outside Lisbon.
The “centrality of a neutral student support office”, with the advantage of non-recognition by closer teachers, was also accepted by those present. Luís Fernandes presented the advantages of the “creation of a socialising centre for teachers” as something to provide wellbeing practices at UL.
Accompaniment for foreign students was another subject that it was agreed upon for being integrated into some central structure at the UL. In relation to this issue, Dr Luísa Cerdeira mentioned the idea of there being a Student Shop in the UL with the advantages of this being a place that would respond to and solve many of the needs of university student life.
Our Chancellor recalled the centre for shared resources, one of the measures taken during his term of office, and left the challenge that it is necessary to know how to read the UL.
One of the main issues nowadays is that of communication, that is, how to reach all its members in good time. As raised by our Chancellor, this is a challenge that needs to be dealt with soon.
André Caldas centred on the area of student participation in the guaranteeing of quality as a means of leading to satisfaction and, necessarily, to wellbeing. Continuous and participated internal assessment by and with students will lead to renewed and attractive programmes, as mentioned above. Students who participate in guaranteeing quality means that the results are known in good time and the necessary alterations are made in order to improve well-being at the UL. These processes will naturally be subjected to an external evaluation which, as André Caldas clearly stressed, should not be punitive as they were in the past.
Carlota Saldanha asked whether the statutes of the university teaching career contemplate, besides the activities of research and teaching, the element of management, and whether this is contemplated in public contracting competitions. This question emerges in the context of teachers’ involvement in operating quality guarantee systems that, through observing what happens in other places, needs almost exclusive dedication
After expressing satisfaction about the development of the debate, Ana Nunes de Almeida focused on some aspects needed in order to enrich and bring together intervention strategies: the university should not be seen only as a place for teaching, but also as a living space, for socialising as young people (starting at first degree level); the UL is made up of organic units with disparate internal characteristics and is frequented by students with very heterogeneous social backgrounds; the pedagogical activity carried out by teachers should be assessed – but what indicators should one choose?
We may announce that the second debate “The Wellbeing of the UL Support Staff”, will take place on the 3rd of June, and the speakers will be David Xavier (FMUL), Fonseca e Castro (General Council) and Ricardo Reis (FLUL). The third debate will be during the penultimate week of June, with the title “The Wellbeing of Teachers and Researchers at the UL”.
Debate during the session; André Caldas, Luís Fernandes, Professor António Nóvoa and Bernardo Vidal
Carlota Saldanha
Before this phase, the University of Lisbon (UL), in the person of the Pro-Chancellor Ana Nunes de Almeida, will be promoting a cycle of debates entitled “The Self-Evaluation of the UL”, based on the UL Self-Evaluation Report that had previously been handed to the EUA and placed on the UL website (www.ul.pt). The cycle of debates aims at continuing a broad debate on the issues dealt with in the report: institutional context, mission and aims, constraints and opportunities, modes of organization and activities (management, teaching/learning and research, financing, quality guarantee).
The first debate was held on the 12th of May in the Chancellery Conference Room from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Its overall subject was “The Wellbeing of UL Students” and the speakers were: Bernardo Vidal (Academic Association), Luís Fernandes (Administrator of the Social Action Services) and André Caldas (member of the General Council). The session was presided over by the Chancellor, Professor António Nóvoa. The communications will be published, and as a consequence of this news the considerations that were the subject of debate and conclusions will be particularly taken into account.
The session began with a salutation from the Chancellor, who thanked Professor Ana Nunes de Almeida for all of her commitment to the process of Self-Assessment of the UL and in the creation of the Debate Cycle. Bernardo Vidal emphasised the need to involve recently-arrived students towards “teaching how to behave in higher education”, to “transmit individual and collective responsibility in university life to them”. He stressed that, given that the UL, like other state education institutions, does not interfere in the direct recruiting of first degree students. It may act, however, towards “creating greater prospects for attracting”, meaning “providing attractive conditions” such as “presenting modern curricula”.
Another aspect that received consensus among the audience and was reinforced by the Chancellor was that of the mobility of students within the UL institution. That aim demands effective communication in order to provide up-to-date knowledge about the methods of learning and information on all the systems of functioning of access and participation in the different modalities that exist. In short, the UL should not overlook its base training, the first degree. The meaning of the university based on research was a subject for reflection once again, with this not meaning that it should be transformed exclusively into research institutes, but rather into teaching based on what is done (researched) and in learning through doing.
The meaning of the title chosen for the debate was the subject of analysis by the second speaker, Dr. Luís Fernandes, who outlined the wellbeing of students in a more general manner, going beyond the Social Action Services. He gave the example of the libraries and learning places (dimensions presented in the UL Self-Evaluation Report and in the annexes to the report), the timetables of which, if they are extended, would allow everyone to use them, particularly those who are from outside Lisbon.
The “centrality of a neutral student support office”, with the advantage of non-recognition by closer teachers, was also accepted by those present. Luís Fernandes presented the advantages of the “creation of a socialising centre for teachers” as something to provide wellbeing practices at UL.
Accompaniment for foreign students was another subject that it was agreed upon for being integrated into some central structure at the UL. In relation to this issue, Dr Luísa Cerdeira mentioned the idea of there being a Student Shop in the UL with the advantages of this being a place that would respond to and solve many of the needs of university student life.
Our Chancellor recalled the centre for shared resources, one of the measures taken during his term of office, and left the challenge that it is necessary to know how to read the UL.
One of the main issues nowadays is that of communication, that is, how to reach all its members in good time. As raised by our Chancellor, this is a challenge that needs to be dealt with soon.
André Caldas centred on the area of student participation in the guaranteeing of quality as a means of leading to satisfaction and, necessarily, to wellbeing. Continuous and participated internal assessment by and with students will lead to renewed and attractive programmes, as mentioned above. Students who participate in guaranteeing quality means that the results are known in good time and the necessary alterations are made in order to improve well-being at the UL. These processes will naturally be subjected to an external evaluation which, as André Caldas clearly stressed, should not be punitive as they were in the past.
Carlota Saldanha asked whether the statutes of the university teaching career contemplate, besides the activities of research and teaching, the element of management, and whether this is contemplated in public contracting competitions. This question emerges in the context of teachers’ involvement in operating quality guarantee systems that, through observing what happens in other places, needs almost exclusive dedication
After expressing satisfaction about the development of the debate, Ana Nunes de Almeida focused on some aspects needed in order to enrich and bring together intervention strategies: the university should not be seen only as a place for teaching, but also as a living space, for socialising as young people (starting at first degree level); the UL is made up of organic units with disparate internal characteristics and is frequented by students with very heterogeneous social backgrounds; the pedagogical activity carried out by teachers should be assessed – but what indicators should one choose?
We may announce that the second debate “The Wellbeing of the UL Support Staff”, will take place on the 3rd of June, and the speakers will be David Xavier (FMUL), Fonseca e Castro (General Council) and Ricardo Reis (FLUL). The third debate will be during the penultimate week of June, with the title “The Wellbeing of Teachers and Researchers at the UL”.
Debate during the session; André Caldas, Luís Fernandes, Professor António Nóvoa and Bernardo Vidal
Carlota Saldanha
