Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Portugal

Established in 1979, the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (IPC) is a Public Higher Education Institution located in the West centre of Portugal, in the city known for centuries as the “city of students”. One of the ten largest and major institutions of public higher education in Portugal, with 10 000 students and 900 employees (teachers and staff), with six units: Coimbra Agriculture School (ESAC), Coimbra Education School (ESEC), Coimbra Health School (ESTeSC), Oliveira do Hospital Management and Technology School (ESTGOH), Coimbra Business School (ISCAC), Coimbra Institute of Engineering (ISEC), which cover a wide range of training areas, ranging from agriculture and the environment, through education, communication, tourism, arts, management, accounting and marketing, to health and engineering. IPC offers Higher Professional Degree Programs and Vocational Education, Bachelor’s Degrees, Post-graduations and Master’s Degrees, representing a vital part of the city and playing a critical role in local development and national progress. IPC has one research centre recognized by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and has strongly invested its resources in investigation at national and international level. Quality education – where the practical component is strongly supported by solid theory training, with a constant concern to adapt training to market demands –, a close connection with companies, incentive to entrepreneurship and internationalization are central pillars of its education, assuring successful careers to its graduates, as well as high employability rates. Social Service is another core organizational unit responding to the students’ needs by means of general support, scholarships, board and accommodation, medical services and sports practice. IPC is also proud of be part of the more than 300 institutions’ partnerships, which include research, exchange of students, teachers and staff since 1990.