Renata Martins Castanheira, a student of the Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Computer Engineering (LEIC) at ISEL, participated this week in the 13th Wireless Days Conference, one of the most relevant international events in the field of wireless networks. The conference took place from December 2 to 4 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, bringing together researchers and professionals from around the world to discuss technological advances and future challenges.Renata presented two papers resulting from a research project developed at ISEL, entitled “Automatic Planning of Dense Wi-Fi Networks”, which aims to create a methodology and an automated tool to optimize the installation of Wi-Fi access points in large-scale networks. This is an introductory research project in which the student participates voluntarily, collaborating in all stages: developing the planning methodology, implementing the corresponding software, testing, and writing scientific papers.The presented papers were:“Empirical study on the adoption of different Wi-Fi versions: a case study in Lisbon”, a short paper presenting the results of an empirical analysis of the adoption of different Wi-Fi technology versions in Lisbon. The goal is to identify to what extent the latest Wi-Fi versions are actually in use and to analyze the expected time for adopting new versions. The study was based on data collected in various shopping centers and universities across Lisbon and at the airport.“WiFiCoverage: A Fast and Accurate Tool for Automatic Indoor Coverage Analysis”, a paper describing a tool for analyzing Wi-Fi signal coverage in indoor environments. The presented tool offers several advantages over the state of the art, with its main features being low error in the generated analysis data and short execution time.

From December 2 to 5, ISEL hosted the U!Innovate Winter School, an initiative promoted by the Polytechnic University of Lisbon (IPL), organized within the scope of the European project U!Innovate and focused on developing entrepreneurship skills.The initiative featured active participation from professors at ISEL, the Lisbon School of Health, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Odessa National Economic University, and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. They led technical workshops, mentoring sessions, and co-creation activities, reinforcing the multidisciplinary approach essential to technology- and socially-based entrepreneurship.Over four days, students, faculty, and researchers from Germany, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, the Netherlands, and Portugal engaged in an intensive experience aimed at creating innovative solutions and developing business ideas. The Winter School included practical sessions and collaborative challenges dedicated to entrepreneurial thinking, business models, funding, and idea validation. Participants worked on real proposals presented by external partners, applying innovation methodologies, design thinking, and agile development to transform problems into business opportunities.Check out the photo album on Flickr.

As of December 1, 2025, Professor Elisabete Alegria assumes the role of Vice-President of ISEL, with responsibility for the scientific area, research and development (R&D), and projects.As part of this redefinition of areas of responsibility, Professor Pedro Silva, who until now served as Vice-President overseeing the area that Professor Alegria will now manage, will take charge of infrastructures and equipment.Prior to this appointment, Professor Elisabete Alegria had already contributed to the institution’s strategic development as an advisor for the scientific area and projects.

ISEL held another CSWA (Certified SolidWorks Associate) certification session, aimed at students of the Mechanical Engineering degree program. The initiative took place on November 24, under the supervision of professors Ricardo F. Portal (DEM/ISEL) and João Milho (DEM/ISEL).A total of 63 students participated, of which 57 obtained the CSWA certificate by achieving at least 70% (165 out of 240 points). This result corresponds to a success rate of 91.9%. It is also noteworthy that 32.3% of the students achieved the maximum score (240/240), equivalent to a grade of 20 out of 20.The CSWA certification is an international recognition of proficiency in using SOLIDWORKS software, covering concepts of 3D modeling, design, and sustainability, giving students a competitive advantage in today’s job market. At ISEL, access to this certification—whose commercial cost exceeds €100 per person—was provided free of charge thanks to a partnership with Ibernova (Sqédio), representative of the SolidWorks program, through Opportunities (formerly vouchers) granted by the Certification Provider and professor Ricardo F. Portal to the students.At ISEL, this opportunity is offered to students who demonstrate high academic performance in the courses of Computer-Aided Design and Mechanical Construction Drawing. Thanks to this initiative, since 2017, 315 students from the Mechanical Engineering degree program have obtained the CSWA certificate.Check out the photo album on Flickr.

From November 10 to 14, 2025, ISEL hosted the in-person phase of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) – Entrepreneurship Beyond Borders: Focusing on Climate Change, an initiative promoted by the U!REKA team of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon (IPL) and funded by the Erasmus+ program.The project targeted undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students from any field, early-stage entrepreneurs and startup founders, as well as researchers and faculty from U!REKA network partner institutions interested in innovation and business incubation.This BIP combined online sessions with in-person activities, aiming to foster sustainable entrepreneurship and carbon neutrality. The three online sessions took place between October 21 and November 18, while the in-person phase was held on the ISEL campus, bringing together international participants for five intensive days of learning and collaboration.Throughout the week, participants deepened their understanding of innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship, developed startup ideas with positive environmental impact, engaged in practical workshops, roundtables, and co-creation sessions, explored funding opportunities in Portugal and the European Union, and pitched their projects to mentors and experts, receiving constructive feedback.The program aimed to achieve, among other outcomes, a deeper understanding of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship, financing and scalability strategies, and the development of an international, climate-conscious mindset.International participation and team The initiative brought together around 40 participants, including 25 students from Germany, Czechia, Portugal, and Austria. Jorge Albino and Nuno Aguiar, students of the Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Computer Engineering, joined international teams in developing the projects.On behalf of the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, the following faculty members and guests were involved:ISEL: António Serrador, Matilde Pato, Luís Barreiros, and Isabel João. Guests: Fábio Matos (NEXUS) and Nuno Alves (ANI).ESSL: Marina Silva, Mário Matos, and Gilda Cunha.ESELx: Cristina Cruz.See the photo album on Flickr.

On November 6, ISEL held the inauguration ceremony for the new President of the Technical-Scientific Council (CTC), Professor Maria Ana Baptista (DF/ISEL).The event was attended by the President of the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Professor António Belo, who officially appointed the professor, praising the work of the former President, Professor João Alfredo Santos (DEC/ISEL), and highlighting the importance of this body in shaping the school’s strategic and scientific direction.In her speech, Maria Ana Baptista thanked the academic community for its trust and emphasized the importance of collaborative work: “I hope to maintain excellent coordination with the Board and all team members, as the challenges we face require unity. I believe we can create conditions for a more dynamic school, where knowledge sharing becomes a distinctive hallmark”.A few days earlier, in a private session, the remaining members of the CTC team had already taken office, in a ceremony led by ISEL’s President, Professor José Nascimento. The group includes representatives from all departments:Alessandro Fantoni (DEETC/ISEL)Ana Figueiredo (DEQ/ISEL)Carlos Meneses (DEETC/ISEL)Célia Fernandes (DM/ISEL)Fernando Sousa (DEI/ISEL)Filipa Almeida (DM/ISEL)Hiren Canacsinh (DEEEA/ISEL)José Aguilar Madeira (DM/ISEL)José Gabriel Lopes (DEEEA/ISEL)José Simão (DEI/ISEL)José Tavares (DF/ISEL)João Alfredo Santos (DEC/ISEL)João Garcia (DEM/ISEL)Luciano Jacinto (DEC/ISEL)Luís Evangelista (DEC/ISEL)Maria Amélia Loja (DEM/ISEL)Maria Paula Robalo (DEQ/ISEL)Nuno Cruz (DEI/ISEL)Paulo Marques (DEETC/ISEL)Pedro Mendes Jorge (DEI/ISEL)Sónia Martins (DEQ/ISEL)Teresa Moura e Silva (DEM/ISEL)Tiago Dias (DEETC/ISEL)Vasco Soares (DEEEA/ISEL)With this team, ISEL reinforces its commitment to academic excellence and scientific innovation—essential pillars for the development of its educational areas.See the photo album on Flickr.