Overview
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (Faculty of Science and Technology; FCT) is one of the nine academic units of Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL). The FCT/UNL campus is located in Monte de Caparica and covers approximately 30 ha, with additional capacity expansion to 60 ha.
Founded in 1977, FCT/UNL is one of the most prestigious Portuguese public schools of science and engineering today, with a total enrolment of ca. 7500 students, of which nearly 1400 are postgraduate students (MSc and PhD).
Since its foundation, FCT/UNL has given priority to the promotion of research in its areas of activity. Today FCT/UNL hosts 16 research centres acknowledged by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (of which 3 are rated “excellent” and 6 ”very good”), as well as 2 Poles of research centres (both rated “very good”).
An important measure of academic quality at FCT/UNL is provided by growing employer satisfaction and successful job market insertion of FCT/UNL graduates and postgraduates. In particular, all the programs in engineering have been accredited by the Portuguese Board of Professional Engineers.
FCT/UNL keeps close links with many Portuguese and foreign universities with regard to the exchange of academic staff and students, as well as collaboration within research projects.
The scientific output of FCT/UNL includes a large number of publications in international journals with high impact, which has earned FCT/UNL recognition by its peers.
FCT/UNL has ca. 500 academic and research staff (320 PhD holders) and 220 administrative staff. It has 14 departments/sectors and 8 support services.
Through its departments and research centres, FCT/UNL also provides a range of services to public and private enterprises within its areas of expertise.
The governance model of FCT/UNL is defined in its statutes and comprises the following organs: Faculty Council, Dean, Executive Council, Management Council, Scientific Council, and Pedagogical Council.
The FCT campus at Caparica has modern education and research facilities. The most recent of its 20 buildings is the Library, a hallmark of the campus due to its architectural design and functionality. The campus includes other infrastructures, such as students’ halls, sports infrastructures, child day-care, health services, bookshop, bank agency, travel agency, convenience store, several restaurants and cafeterias.
FCT/UNL students have all that is required for effective learning, including a friendly atmosphere between students and academic staff that is often not found in other schools.
FCT/UNL is easily accessible through public transportation, including different combinations of ferry, train, bus and underground/surface metro (last stop at “Universidade”, near one of the entrances and close to car parking P7).
Founded in 1979, the Students’ Union (AEFCT) represents and defends the interests of the students in matters relating to their education and personal growth as citizens. Every year, AEFCT organizes several activities, such as Freshmen Week, the Pedagogical Forum and the Forum of AEFCT Nuclei, among other cultural, entertaining and sports activities.
The AEFCT Nuclei include, among others, anTUNiA – FCT’s Male Students’ musical group, Tuna Maria – Female Students’ Musical Group, nuclei dedicated to photography, theatre, cinema, radio, adventure, underwater activities, and nuclei directed at students enrolled in certain study programs. AEFCT also encourages students to join sports teams, such as the Rugby team (winner of the National Inter-University Championship in the last two years), or the Taekwondo, Football 1l, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Roller Skates Hockey, Athletics teams.