Maria Francisca Cabral is a Master's student in Electrical and Computer Engineering (MEEC) and has already participated in organizing 5 editions of Técnico’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Days (JEEC). In an interview with DEEC, she spoke about her journey, from choosing her degree to the present moment.

Her curiosity for Electrical and Computer Engineering emerged during high school. Although she had previously dreamed of pursuing medicine, she realized that her interest in physics and mathematics outweighed her interest in human biology. “It was a bit like destroying a dream,” she says. She decided to start over and look for new options, coming across the Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering (LEEC) during an Open Day at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP).

I chose engineering because I wanted something more practical, something hands-on (...) and I chose Técnico because of its prestige and because it is more demanding. I liked that level of challenge.

Maria Francisca Cabral, MEEC student and JEEC 2026 coordinator

She eventually enrolled in LEEC, motivated by the breadth of the program and its connection to factory environments and machine automation. On the other hand, pursuing this degree would also allow her to reconnect with her childhood dream: “I knew that Electrical Engineering included robotics, and I found that part interesting because it could be linked to healthcare,” she highlights.

However, the transition to higher education did not initially meet her expectations: “I think that when we enter Técnico, we come in with the idea that we are very good students and, therefore, we will get very good grades, but (...) you have to change that mindset. You won’t be the student you were in high school; you will have to adapt to what you have now,” she notes. She emphasizes that she immediately felt the need to study more and be more organized, although she acknowledges that the level of difficulty increased with the transition from semesters to shorter academic periods: “I had to take extra courses during the transition year and then had only seven weeks to study. I wasn’t used to such an intense study pace,” she recalls.

JEEC helped me disconnect a bit from the course during times when I felt overwhelmed and gave me a more social side, where I learned to manage different people, deal with different personalities, and understand that when things go wrong, we keep going no matter what.

Maria Francisca Cabral, MEEC student and JEEC 2026 coordinator

With the goal of joining student groups that would help her develop soft skills, she decided to join AAUL and Técnico’s JEEC in her first year. At AAUL, she joined the external relations team and later its presidency, being responsible for contact with external entities.

At JEEC, she initially joined the business department, where she handled communication with companies, including invitations, discussions about fees and changes in each edition, and support throughout the event. She participated in the first JEEC event after the COVID-19 pandemic, which took place in a tent set up on campus—something that made that edition particularly memorable. Maria Francisca Cabral highlights that the fact that students were responsible for setting up and ensuring the safety of the space contributed to the team spirit within the group.

It was very emotional (...) Setting up the tent was always very demanding, but in the end, it was always rewarding. We all became much closer friends; there was a real sense of unity.

Maria Francisca Cabral, MEEC student and JEEC 2026 coordinator

The following year, she became the department leader and later joined JEEC’s newly created logistics department. “In this department, we secure sponsors for everything possible to reduce our costs. We also provide the physical structure for the event,” she explains. The logistics team was created in the year JEEC was first held at the Técnico Innovation Center (TIC).

After four years in the organization, the student took on the role of event coordinator. “As a team leader, I had more responsibility; I had to manage the team and think about how everything would work... It’s more work, (...) but it was motivating because, after so many years, I had a more important role,” she notes. It was in this role that she faced what she considers her biggest challenge: returning to Técnico’s campus. After two editions at TIC, she points out that sometimes it is necessary to give up certain ideas in order to provide the best possible experience: “We wanted JEEC to be one of Técnico’s biggest events. (...) Moving to TIC was a big step. (...) I felt a bit sad about the decision to return to campus.”

I think the biggest challenge I faced as coordinator was having to ‘go back,’ (...) but at the same time, I was also the first person to say that it was the only way for JEEC to take place this year.

Maria Francisca Cabral, MEEC student and JEEC 2026 coordinator

Although this edition did not go as initially planned, the student emphasizes that she always tries to maintain a positive attitude, influenced by her passion for organizing the event: “there is always that hope [that each edition will be better than the previous one]. In that sense, I truly care about JEEC.”

This year, the event featured the usual job fair, along with talks, various workshops, and networking opportunities with companies. The next edition will be organized based on feedback from participants and will have a new coordination team.

If I had to describe my experience at Técnico in one word, it would be “challenging.” I feel that the course itself has really tested me.

Maria Francisca Cabral, MEEC student and JEEC 2026 coordinator

Currently, Maria Francisca Cabral is working on her master’s thesis. As with JEEC, she did not end up following her initial plan, where she had considered pursuing robotics. In her third year, exposure to telecommunications courses motivated her to change direction again, choosing MEEC with a specialization in this area. “My thesis aims to automate the detection of errors and their causes in data from antennas, [including, for example, understanding whether] a call dropped, whether you were able to make a call without interruptions, whether you were able to establish a connection between your phone and the antenna quickly, whether you were able to transfer data, images... among other things,” she explains. In the future, she hopes to work in telecommunications while also keeping open the possibility of pursuing research.

If she could speak to her younger self, she says she would tell her not to worry so much: “Things will eventually work out the way they are meant to, and you won’t have that much control over everything,” she notes, reflecting on the many changes and challenges she has faced throughout her journey at Técnico and the importance of valuing mental health. However, her time at the School has reinforced a trait she has had since childhood: resilience.

When I set my mind to something, I see it through to the end.

Maria Francisca Cabral, MEEC student and JEEC 2026 coordinator