University of the Azores
Encyclopedia
The University of the Azores (Portuguese: Universidade dos Açores), or commonly abbreviated as UAç, is the only public university
in the Autonomous Region of the Azores
, It was founded on January 9, 1976, two years after the Carnation Revolution
that ended several decades of dictatorship in Portugal, but before the Portuguese Third Republic
was institutionalized, along with the Region's Autonomy
. The University is a public institution dependent on the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (English: Ministry of Science, Technology & Education), and was established in order to advance sustainable development and higher education in the Azores.
The establishment of the University of the Azores developed from a period of autonomous politics related to separatist movements that developed in the second-half of 1975. Although not completely responsible, the events following the Carnation Revolution
prepared the conditions for the creation of the university. Due to academic disorder on the continent, which forced the closing of the many of the universities, several of the wealthier families sent their children to the United States or Canada in order for them to complete their studies. It was during this post-revolutionary period that the idea of creating a local institution of higher education was debated. A small group of academics and elites explored alternatives in order to lower costs, distances and reduce the centralization of the national government. It was at this time that the central government suggested the creation of a Centro Universitário (English: University Centre), one that the President of the Regional Junta
, General Altino de Magalhães, refused to consider since he felt that the community would only accept the establishment of a formal University.
By Ministry Order (No.414/75), on 14 October 1976, the formation of a working group was established. By January 9, 1976, the Instituto Universitário dos Açores (English: University Institution of the Azores) Decree (No.5/76) was promulgated in an atmosphere of regionalization of higher education, which allowed for the establishment of units responsible for teaching, investigation, cultural development and community services. The intent of the Act was to respond to the democratization process developing in the country, and develop a regional equilibrium, after the 1974 revolution. On July 25, 1980, the with the promulgation of the Decree-Law No.252/80 the community began to refer to the new institution as the University of the Azores.
(São Miguel
), Angra do Heroísmo
(Terceira) and Horta
(Faial
) and organized into departments and schools to, essentially, provide instruction and investigation services. In addition to the Main Campus (Ponta Delgada), which provides a concentration of various disciplines, the other two campuses provided specialized training in agrarian sciences and oceangraphy;
Since its foundation, the University has had four rectors. Currently, its rector is Dr. Avelino de Freitas de Meneses, a professor of insular history of the Atlantic.
São Miguel
Terceira
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
in the Autonomous Region of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, It was founded on January 9, 1976, two years after the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
that ended several decades of dictatorship in Portugal, but before the Portuguese Third Republic
Portuguese Third Republic
The Third Portuguese Republic is a period in the history of Portugal corresponding to the current democratic regime installed after the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974, that put an end to the paternal autocratic regime of Estado Novo of António de Oliveira Salazar and Marcello Caetano...
was institutionalized, along with the Region's Autonomy
Political status of the Autonomous Region of the Azores
The political status of the Autonomous Region of the Azores is the standard paralegal constitutional framework for the autonomy of the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores...
. The University is a public institution dependent on the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (English: Ministry of Science, Technology & Education), and was established in order to advance sustainable development and higher education in the Azores.
History
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
prepared the conditions for the creation of the university. Due to academic disorder on the continent, which forced the closing of the many of the universities, several of the wealthier families sent their children to the United States or Canada in order for them to complete their studies. It was during this post-revolutionary period that the idea of creating a local institution of higher education was debated. A small group of academics and elites explored alternatives in order to lower costs, distances and reduce the centralization of the national government. It was at this time that the central government suggested the creation of a Centro Universitário (English: University Centre), one that the President of the Regional Junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
, General Altino de Magalhães, refused to consider since he felt that the community would only accept the establishment of a formal University.
By Ministry Order (No.414/75), on 14 October 1976, the formation of a working group was established. By January 9, 1976, the Instituto Universitário dos Açores (English: University Institution of the Azores) Decree (No.5/76) was promulgated in an atmosphere of regionalization of higher education, which allowed for the establishment of units responsible for teaching, investigation, cultural development and community services. The intent of the Act was to respond to the democratization process developing in the country, and develop a regional equilibrium, after the 1974 revolution. On July 25, 1980, the with the promulgation of the Decree-Law No.252/80 the community began to refer to the new institution as the University of the Azores.
Structure
In order to effectively provide educational services to regional population, the University established three campuses, in Ponta DelgadaPonta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
(São Miguel
São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
), Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
(Terceira) and Horta
Horta (Azores)
Horta is a single municipality and city in the western part of the Archipealgo of the Azores, encompassing the island of Faial. Horta has a population of about approximately 15,038 people and an area of 173.1 square kilometers. The population density is about 88 persons per square kilometer...
(Faial
Faial Island
Faial Island , also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores....
) and organized into departments and schools to, essentially, provide instruction and investigation services. In addition to the Main Campus (Ponta Delgada), which provides a concentration of various disciplines, the other two campuses provided specialized training in agrarian sciences and oceangraphy;
Since its foundation, the University has had four rectors. Currently, its rector is Dr. Avelino de Freitas de Meneses, a professor of insular history of the Atlantic.
Schools
- Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Angra do Heroísmo, (English: Nursing School of Angra do Heroísmo), in Angra do HeroísmoAngra do HeroísmoAngra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
- Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Ponta Delgada, (English: Nursing School of Ponta Delgada), in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
Departments
Faial- Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, (English: Department of Oceanography and Fisheries) - the only unit located on the island, it was created in 1976, in order to foster "scientific understanding, the conservation of marine life and the sustainable use of the Atlantic Ocean in the region of the Azores", in conjunction with initiatives by the Azorean Department of Fisheries (DOP). Since 1991, DOP/UAç has been a founding member of IMAR (Institute do Mar) and in 1996 joined the network of European Association of Research Stations, EurOcean, the European Network of Excellence on Marine Biodiversity (MarBEF) and European Seas Observatory Network (ESONET). Further, DOP/UAç are participants in Steering Committees for three great initiatives by Census of Marine Life program: ChEss (Biogeography of Chemosynthetic Ecosystems), MAR-ECO (Patterns and Processes of the Ecosystems of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and CenSeam (A Global Census of Marine Life on Seamounts). There is also participation on international initiatives as part of the OTN (Ocean Tracking Network).
São Miguel
- Departamento de Biologia, (English: Department of Biology) - located in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
, São MiguelSão Miguel IslandSão Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel... - Departamento de Ciências da Educação, (English: Department of Educational Sciences), in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
- Departamento de Ciências Tecnológicas e Desenvolvimento, (English: Department of Technological Sciences and Development), in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
- Departamento de Economia e Gestão, (English: Department of Economics and Management), in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
- Departamento de Geociências, (English: Department of Geosciences), in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
- Departamento de História, Filosofia e Ciências Sociais, (English: Department of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences), in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
- Departamento de Línguas e Literaturas Modernas, (English: Department of Languages and Modern Literature), in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
- Departamento de Matemática,(English: Department of Mathematics), in Ponta DelgadaPonta DelgadaPonta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
Terceira
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, (English: Department of Agricultural Sciences), in Angra do HeroísmoAngra do HeroísmoAngra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
Research centers
- Centro de Biotecnologia dos Açores (CBA)Centro de Biotecnologia dos Açores (CBA)The Biotechnology Centre of the Azores is a biotechnology research center founded in 2003 by a group of professors from the University of the Azores's department of agricultural sciences...
(English: The Biotechnology Centre of Azores) - Centro de Estudos de Economia Aplicada do Atlântico CEEAplA (English: Centre of Applied Economics Studies of the Atlantic)
- Centro de Física e Investigação Tecnológica Dep. de Física da FCT/UNLCentro de Física e Investigação Tecnológica Dep. de Física da FCT/UNLThe Center for Physical and Technological Research is a research center devoted to scientific innovation. Has 33 members and more than 30 students.Areas of research:...
(English: The Center for Physical and Technological Research ) - Centro de História de Além-Mar (English: The Centre for Overseas History )
- Centro de Inovação e Sustentabilidade em Engenharia e Construção
- Centro de Investigação e Tecnologia Agrária dos Açores (CITA-A)
- Centro de Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos Geológicos
- Centro de Empreendedorismo da Universidade dos Açores|Centro de Empreendedorismo
External links
- Campus de Angra/Angra Campus or the Department of Agricultural Sciences (in Portuguese)
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Oceanography and Ichthyology in Horta