The rector of the Polytechnic University of Portalegre, Luís Loures, warned that the institution's infrastructure is no longer sufficient to support all students, with an expansion project underway to address this. During the welcome ceremony for new students, the rector explained that an expansion of the facilities is being prepared both on the polytechnic campus and in the city centre of Portalegre, considering it fundamental to have dignified spaces to receive students.
To address the lack of space, the university has already transformed the auditorium of the central services and the assembly hall into classrooms. A postgraduate school is also being completed within three to four months, which will provide 10 fully equipped and modern rooms, representing an investment exceeding 4 million euros.
The rector highlighted that over the past eight years, the institution has grown from 1,780 to 3,500 students, effectively doubling the number of students, a number that triples when students from degree-conferring courses are included. UPP is formed by the School of Biosciences in Elvas and, in Portalegre, by the School of Technology, Management and Design, the School of Education and Social Sciences, and the School of Health.
Luís Loures also thanked the municipalities of Portalegre and Elvas for their support in accommodating students in their respective cities, indicating that approximately 5 million euros have already been invested in creating beds to accommodate students, two of which were supported by the university itself. Currently, approximately 600 beds are available in Portalegre, with more than 100 to be inaugurated shortly.
