The “Portugal em Prática” programme kicked off today at the Instituto Superior Técnico. This initiative, organised in partnership with FAP, is aimed at students of Portuguese descent and Portuguese speakers, and seeks to strengthen their connection to Portuguese identity through an immersive, academic and cultural approach. The opening session took place at the Instituto Superior Técnico Congress Centre, bringing together academics, researchers and institutional representatives on a morning marked by a celebration of the diaspora’s role in promoting Portugal’s profile worldwide.
Recognised as one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in Portugal, the Instituto Superior Técnico has, over the decades, played a central role in training highly qualified professionals and in the production of scientific knowledge. Its influence on the national and international academic scene makes it a prime venue for hosting initiatives that strengthen the ties between Portugal and its communities scattered across the globe, fostering a deeper connection between knowledge, identity and belonging.
The opening session featured welcoming remarks by Rui Mendes and Ágata Nicolau, representing the Instituto Superior Técnico, as well as by Diogo Feio, a member of the board of the António Pargana Foundation. In their speeches, they highlighted the importance of bringing young people from the diaspora closer to contemporary Portuguese reality, promoting experiences that go beyond the academic aspect and reinforce a sense of belonging and responsibility in the preservation and dissemination of Portuguese culture.
One of the highlights of the morning was the presentation by Professor Lourenço Pereira Coutinho, from FAP, who spoke on the topic “Portugal: Foundations and historical variables of an unlikely country”. His reflection focused on the structural and contingent factors that have shaped the country’s historical trajectory, whilst also highlighting the decisive role of the Portuguese diaspora in the construction and international projection of Portugal over the centuries.
The first module of the programme, entitled “From Sun to Water: Scientific and Cultural Expedition through the Algarve”, begins today and will run over two days in the Faro region of the Algarve. Through visits and activities centred on energy, sustainability, innovation, culture, heritage and the sea, participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with concrete examples of Portuguese expertise in these fields, strengthening their connection to their country of origin or cultural affinity.
With this programme, FAP continues its mission by building bridges between Portugal and its diaspora, contributing to the global promotion of Portuguese knowledge, innovation and values among the younger generation.
