On June 7, the Rectory of the University of Lisbon welcomed 140 recent graduates. The diploma ceremony also featured the presence of the President of the Scientific Council (for doctoral graduates) and the President of the Pedagogical Council (for master’s graduates), along with department heads and course coordinators.

Maria Vilar, winner of the first edition of the Alumni Awards, emphasized that Técnico gave her “much more than knowledge,” and expressed her belief that the recent graduates would also come to realize this throughout their own journeys. She highlighted the critical thinking skills and the ability to “look for solutions instead of excuses” developed during her academic path, while underlining the need for “engineers, scientists, and leaders with a purpose.”

Ricardo Lameirinhas, PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering and representative of the 3rd cycle graduates, shared in his speech that, when applying to higher education, all of the course/institution combinations he considered included Técnico. “I always knew it was the best school in the country, and I was aware that it was also one of the best in the world,” he said. Throughout his academic path, he stood out for his civic and institutional involvement, having served as class representative and as a member of both the School Council and Assembly—experiences he considers key to his development.

Catarina Botelho, also recently awarded a PhD in the same field, echoed many of the words spoken during the ceremony—particularly the idea that “Técnico is not built alone,” which she believes is a common reality among students. She recalled how the support of friends and fellow PhD candidates helped her through the most demanding moments. In the end, she affirmed: “All the effort was worth it to return to the steps of the University of Lisbon’s Rectory.”

Full article and photos available here: Técnico