An Open University, an Experience That Transforms

Internationalisation is now one of the central dimensions of the University of Lisbon’s strategy. Attracting students from different countries also means building an increasingly open university, capable of creating new opportunities for learning, research and collaboration, and preparing its students for an increasingly international society and labour market.

With more than 11,000 international students from over 100 nationalities, ULisboa is already a deeply diverse academic community. This reality translates into a university experience that goes beyond the boundaries of its 10 campuses and 19 Schools: new perspectives in the classroom and greater proximity between different cultures and ways of thinking.

In this context, the University of Lisbon has been developing its internationalisation strategy, including through its presence in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil, where it takes part in several international education fairs.

Vice-Rectors João Peixoto and Jorge Relvas reflect on the role of internationalisation in the University’s strategy, the impact of diversity on the academic experience, attracting international talent and the ULisboa they want to build for students arriving from different parts of the world.

Why is internationalisation now a strategic priority for the University of Lisbon, and what does it concretely mean to build an increasingly international ULisboa?

João Peixoto: The University of Lisbon’s Strategic Plan is very clear about the importance of internationalisation: it should occupy a central place in the development of any university and, for this reason, also in ours. The openness to the world that characterises the best universities should be reflected in the main areas of their mission: teaching, research and knowledge transfer.

In the case of ULisboa, internationalisation should include increasing international partnerships in the provision of degree programmes (courses jointly offered with foreign universities), intensifying academic mobility (students, teaching staff, researchers and technical and administrative staff), strengthening our integration in the European Unite! alliance, belonging to networks of scientific excellence, increasing international publications, increasing competitive funding (particularly European funding), and extending innovation and knowledge transfer to other countries.

It is no coincidence that our University’s motto has always pointed in this direction: ULisboa – from Lisbon to the World.

ULisboa is strengthening its presence in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil. What makes these audiences particularly relevant to the University?

Jorge Relvas: To respond to the enormous potential for attracting talent, scientific cooperation and internationalisation of the academic community in Latin America, ULisboa is strategically expanding its presence in these countries, namely by promoting its academic offer at major events such as international education fairs in Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile (EXPO Estudiante/Expoposgrados – Latin America) and Salão do Estudante in Brazil.

Brazilian students make up the largest group of international students from Latin America undertaking mobility at ULisboa, which is understandable given the shared language and the strong cultural and historical ties between the two countries. However, the number of students from Spanish-speaking South American countries has also been growing significantly.

Linguistic and cultural similarities naturally facilitate the full and rapid integration of these students into our institutional culture, while the socio-economic development of these countries has led to growing demand for high-quality and prestigious higher education such as that offered by ULisboa.

By positioning itself in these markets through international missions and direct contact with school counsellors, ULisboa presents itself as a university with a strong multicultural vocation, welcoming these students to a safe and vibrant European context such as the city of Lisbon.

What distinguishes ULisboa as a study destination for an international student and, consequently, as a choice for their family?

João Peixoto: ULisboa is the largest university in Portugal. It is also the Portuguese university that is best positioned in practically all international rankings. For this reason alone, it should be a choice worth considering.

But there are other factors that a prospective student should take into account: ULisboa covers virtually every scientific field and has excellent research across all of them; it increasingly promotes interdisciplinary study; it places a strong emphasis on teaching; it has a cosmopolitan academic community; it provides social support structures (canteens, residences and study spaces) available to all students; and it plays a central role in the cultural life of the city.

Studying at ULisboa means learning from the best, being close to your teachers, meeting colleagues from many countries around the world and having unique experiences – all of which will make your academic journey highly valued in the labour market and an unforgettable period in your life.

Added to this is the fact that the University is located in Lisbon, the country’s capital and one of the world’s most vibrant cities, in a country that ranks among the safest in the world.

“There are other factors that a prospective student should take into account: ULisboa covers virtually every scientific field and has excellent research across all of them; it increasingly promotes interdisciplinary study; it places a strong emphasis on teaching; it has a cosmopolitan academic community; it provides social support structures (canteens, residences and study spaces) available to all students; and it plays a central role in the cultural life of the city.”

João Peixoto, Vice-Rector of the University of Lisbon

Beyond student mobility, what impact does internationalisation have on research, scientific cooperation, ULisboa’s academic networks and the experience of the ULisboa community as a whole?

Jorge Relvas: ULisboa has more than 11,000 international students, out of a total of more than 51,000 students. With so many international students from more than 100 different countries, the everyday academic environment at ULisboa has become a space of great international dynamism.

However, the internationalisation of ULisboa goes far beyond student mobility. It is a driver of strategic transformation, having an impact on the excellence of the scientific research produced at the University and on its position in the global world in which we live.

The various internationalisation programmes fund training periods, international missions and teaching abroad for ULisboa teaching staff and researchers, promoting the exchange of good practices and continuous contact with cutting-edge research environments, fostering collaborative and knowledge-sharing networks, and giving our researchers access to the best and most advanced international laboratories.

At the same time, ULisboa’s strong integration into the global scientific community promotes innovation and attracts international talent, enabling highly qualified foreign researchers and teaching staff to establish themselves in our Schools, while also increasing our competitiveness in securing large-scale financial resources, which are essential to the long-term financial sustainability of the research we carry out.

ULisboa has active agreements with more than 500 universities and research institutes in over 60 countries across all continents. Participation in the Unite! Alliance and ULisboa’s involvement in EIT KIC consortia, for example, are part of this ongoing internationalisation strategy for our research.

What does a Portuguese student gain from studying at a university with an increasingly international community?

João Peixoto: All recent studies on the impact of new technologies on learning, particularly those focusing on artificial intelligence, highlight the importance of acquiring transferable skills, strengthening critical thinking and developing the ability to solve new problems.

For this, the advantage of working as a team, taking part in collective activities and spending more time on campus is crucial. It is possible to study in isolation and access knowledge uncritically, but this does not make us capable of facing the challenges of the future.

Sharing academic life with colleagues from the same country is enriching in itself. However, getting to know and working with colleagues from other countries increases our ability to understand the world. We learn other languages, discover different habits and become better equipped to deal with cultural diversity.

Being a student at a university with an increasingly international community prepares us for a highly challenging reality. The knowledge we acquire comes from the materials we study, but also from the personal exchanges and experiences we share.

“To respond to the profile of the international student of the future, the University will have to become a driver of innovation and cutting-edge research, at the frontiers of knowledge, with a real impact on the major issues of our time.”

Jorge Relvas, Vice-Rector of the University of Lisbon

How does the University seek to ensure that international students are not simply welcomed, but truly integrated into the ULisboa community?

Jorge Relvas: The integration of international students at ULisboa is based on a strategy combining academic welcome, social support, peer mentoring and socio-cultural inclusion.

The University organises events such as the Welcome Day – ULisboa, whose extensive programme aims to promote multicultural interaction and the exchange of experiences between newly arrived international students and the community of students, teaching staff and staff members they will become part of.

Likewise, each of ULisboa’s Schools organises its own welcome weeks and sessions. In all of them, Students’ Unions and other student groups provide mentoring networks that support new students with their daily routines, navigating the campuses and connecting with student life.

ULisboa’s Social Action Services make specific places available in our residences for international and mobility students, which also serve as spaces for social interaction.

In addition, there are initiatives aimed at specific groups of international students, such as students from Portuguese-speaking African countries, as well as the work carried out by the Specific Educational Needs Network.

For mobility students (e.g. Erasmus+ students), the University offers Portuguese language and culture courses to reduce linguistic, cultural and communication barriers.

What can an international student take with them after completing their studies at ULisboa, and what role can they continue to play in the University’s international network?

João Peixoto: The time we spend at university is one of the most enriching periods of our lives. We believe that an international student’s experience at ULisboa is an unforgettable one, whether they are completing a full degree programme or taking part in temporary mobility.

During this time, the acquisition of scientific knowledge, developed in classrooms and laboratories and consolidated through independent study, goes hand in hand with the transferable skills developed on campus through group work and opportunities for sharing and interaction.

Moving to another country, or returning to one’s home country, comes with a greater ability to face the labour market and solve complex problems.

In addition to the informal networks that emerge spontaneously, we hope that our former students will become part of our institutional alumni networks. In this way, they will continue to be informed about the activities of their School and University. They are also more likely to return to ULisboa at some point in their professional career to take part in a conference or pursue postgraduate studies. Once a student, always a member of the community.

What kind of University do we want to be, in a few years’ time, for students arriving from different parts of the world?

Jorge Relvas: That is the million-dollar question… and the answer would certainly vary depending on who you asked. Nevertheless, there are some reflections I would like to share.

An ULisboa capable of attracting global students and retaining national and international talent based on merit and proficiency requires a strategic vision focused on teaching excellence, high standards in teaching and research conditions, socio-cultural inclusion, and competitiveness, continuity, sustainability and predictability in funding for research, innovation and teaching.

To respond to the profile of the international student of the future, the University will have to become a driver of innovation and cutting-edge research, at the frontiers of knowledge, with a real impact on the major issues of our time.

It should welcome and co-create, respecting and valuing multicultural diversity, fostering a free and critical spirit and ensuring that curricula themselves can be shaped around an open-ended approach and flexibility in individual pathways, preparing students for a life of constantly evolving challenges and a world undergoing accelerated and continuous transformation.

From preparing for your journey to arriving at ULisboa, all the information and support you need is available on the website, in the International Student Guide and through the latest Welcome Day updates.