Francisco Ferreira

I believe that the desire to follow Engineering began in me from a very young age. Aroused by the curiosity to understand how the world and things work, I have been building a continuous and growing desire to learn more about the reality that surrounds me, how it is and how I can intervene to make the world better, with my knowledge. Well, that’s engineering. The human purpose of inventing and designing, building and maintaining, optimizing and improving, based on the application of scientific, economic, social and at the same time practical knowledge. It is this knowledge that an Engineer works on his side, always with a multi-disciplinary thought, throughout his life, to make a difference. Because Engineering is having all your dreams with you, knowing that with your experience, you will need only one point of support and you will lift the world, as Archimedes said.

FEUP is an amazing college, in a fascinating city like Porto, having all the reasons to be a reference example for engineering teaching. FEUP was the first Portuguese institution with all engineering courses recognized by ENAEE through the allocation of the EUR-ACE Quality Mark. It is diverse, with an exceptional management structure, which ensures an excellent experience for anyone who attends it. A faculty that focuses on its continuous progress, developing international level education, research and innovation activities, FEUP is one of the global reference institutions in several areas of Engineering for students, technicians, researchers and managers, and for numerous organizations, national and international.

I have always believed and understood that the future of humanity depends on how we care for our common home, the Earth. Now, we live on a planet with limited resources, so it is urgent to adopt strategies and innovation to improve the environment and to ensure an ecological footprint that is more than efficient, if desired enough, to survive, and to progress as a human species.
“In nature nothing is created, nothing is lost, everything is transformed”, a phrase we hear many times, from Antoine Lavoisier, who stays in our minds, Environmental Engineers, in order to keep alive the challenge of reconciling scientific knowledge with the practical, and above all with the sustainable. The MIEA Course allows comprehensive training, which aims to provide an integrated, holistic and multi-disciplinary vision to the solution and prevention of environmental problems, seeking innovative solutions, which are desired in an industrial and social development that is intended to be sustainable.

FEUP allows its students access to a diverse set of extracurricular activities, from AEFEUP, as well as other associations and student nucleus, very present today in the academic life of students. AEFEUP gives students the opportunity to practice sports, with FEUP teams in handball, basketball, football, futsal and volleyball. There are also other activities that contribute to the enrichment of students, both as people and as professionals. Examples of these activities are projects such as VOLUNTEERING UP, The G.A.S. Porto Association, Radio Engineering, Painting and Music Workshops, TEUP, TUNAFE, Fados Group, BEST Porto, Society Debates, Entrepreneurship Club, among others. Academic traditions are also highlighted, with central activities such as The Burning of Ribbons and the Academic Procession, which aim at the reception and integration of new students.

I would definitely recommend it. FEUP diversifies by its dimensions, considering the academic training, research, development and innovation activities, and involvement in economic, cultural and social life. It is a faculty that enhances work and support among students, combining the development of knowledge with interpersonal development. As its own motto states “Virtus Unita Fortius Agit” ipsis verbis “Unity makes strength”, it is human collaboration that will carry out the challenge of transforming the world.