On December 16, took place the final phase and presentation of projects for the first Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), promoted by ISEL in collaboration with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.This innovative project, dedicated to the theme Flywheel Inverted Pendulum (FLIP), ran from November 11 to December 19, 2025, involving students from the Bachelor's in Applied Physics Engineering (LEFA) and the Master's in Mechanical Engineering (MEM), along with ERASMUS students doing internships at ISEL and colleagues from Amsterdam.During this period, participants worked in international teams, developing laboratory activities and online meetings, guided by Professors Francisco Campos (DEM/ISEL), Manfred Niehus (DF/ISEL), Mário Mendes (DEM/ISEL), and Pedro Patrício (DF/ISEL).In the final session, which brought together students from Portugal and Amsterdam in an online format, the groups presented their projects, demonstrating technical skills in areas such as applied physics, sensors and actuators, automatic control (PID), Arduino, DC motors, and 3D printing, as well as transversal skills in collaboration, communication, and international networking.This initiative was integrated into the curricular unit Physics Engineering Workshops 3 – Estimation and Control of the LEFA program and constituted an extracurricular activity for MEM students.Check out the photo album on Flickr.
In 2025, ISEL’s Marvila campus marks 55 years since its first class. More than just a date, this milestone celebrates a journey built on knowledge, innovation, and commitment to society.The Marvila campus project was conceived in 1965 by architect Costa e Silva to address the need to replace the facilities on Rua Buenos Aires, which were inadequate for industrial education. Classes at the new location began in 1970, initially with only buildings E, G, and P. In 1974, after the April 25th Revolution, IIL was renamed Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL).Over the decades, the ISEL campus gained new infrastructures and improved accessibility, such as the Chelas metro station. Today, it spans an area of 61,200 m², with seven buildings, laboratories, a library, auditoriums, sports and student spaces, and the Maria Beatriz Residence, becoming a true hub of knowledge.Attentive to today’s world, ISEL has established another key pillar: sustainability. In 2022, it was recognized as an Eco Campus by ABAE, reinforcing its commitment to responsible practices and a greener future. Beyond the various ecological initiatives promoted over the years, this purpose will also be embodied in the “ISEL Carbon Zero” student residence project, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, scheduled for completion in 2026. For the north campus, new sports facilities and a research and advanced training HUB are also planned, featuring technology labs, training rooms, a start-up incubator, and business spaces.ISEL stands out as a center for the creation, transmission, and dissemination of science, technology, and culture, contributing to the quality and innovation that define engineering in Portugal and beyond. With 12 undergraduate degrees, 11 master’s programs, 9 postgraduate courses, and an intense activity in research, development, and innovation, it maintains a strong connection with society and the business and industrial sectors.As a curiosity, watch the video about the first classes at the Marvila campus, available in RTP’s archive..
The photovoltaic islands installed in the campus's internal gardens are the result of an innovative project that won 1st place in the Prémio Sustentabilidade, an initiative promoted by ISEL Eco-Campus in partnership with the Santander Foundation.Developed by undergraduate and master's students in Electrical Engineering José Marcos, Daniel Ferreira, and Marcos Diniz, the project proposes the integration of photovoltaic solar panels into garden tables and benches, allowing the generation of renewable electricity to power laptops, charge cell phones, and other electronic devices.Each photovoltaic island includes two solar panels that generate energy and a storage battery, allowing the system to be used even when there is no sun. The system integrates a charge regulator, which optimizes battery charging, and an inverter, which converts the energy produced to a voltage level suitable for the use of electrical equipment.The photovoltaic islands directly benefit the entire ISEL academic community, totaling approximately 4,000 people, in addition to external visitors. A recent example of its significant use occurred in August during the IAGA/IASPEI Joint Scientific Meeting 2025, where this equipment was widely used by participants.The Sustainability Award grants a cash prize to the winning students and additional funding for the implementation of the solutions on campus, ensuring their realization. The winning project stands out for its strong technological component, practical applicability, and relevant contribution to promoting sustainability and energy efficiency at ISEL.Meanwhile, the results of the second edition of the Sustainability Award have already been published, reinforcing the continuity of this initiative and its role in valuing sustainable innovation in the academic community.
On December 5, 2025, the “Eco-Schools of Higher Education and Eco-Campus Award” ceremony, promoted by the Blue Flag Association for Environment and Education (ABAAE), was held at the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar. The event was attended by a delegation from the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, composed of representatives from various organizational units.In recognition of the work developed at the institution in the area of sustainability and environmental education, ISEL once again received the Eco-Campus flag, revalidating the award for the 2025/2028 triennium. This distinction recognizes and reinforces ISEL's commitment to implementing sustainable practices aligned with the strategic pillars defined by the school's management.ISEL was represented by Professors Cátia Dias, Advisor for the academic area, Carla Viveiros, Vice-President for the pedagogical and quality area, Elisabete Alegria, Vice-President for the scientific area, R&D and projects, and Patrícia Barata, Advisor for the sustainability area and Coordinator of the ISEL Eco-Schools/Eco-Campus Program.At the invitation of the event organizers, Professor Patrícia Barata presented the ISEL Eco-Schools/Eco-Campus program and shared some of the main good sustainability practices adopted at the institution.Fotografias: ABAAE
Professor João Gomes (DEQ/ISEL) has recently obtained international registration as an Education Researcher under the ENTER International Professional Educator Register. This recognition distinguishes faculty members who excel in educational research, applying innovative pedagogical practices and contributing to the improvement of Higher Education.João Gomes is a Coordinating Professor with Aggregation at ISEL and an integrated researcher at the FCT unit CERENA – Center for Natural Resources and Environment/Instituto Superior Técnico/University of Lisbon. Between 2021 and 2025, he served as Vice-President of ISEL for the scientific area, R&D, and projects. In 2025, he was awarded the EUR-ING title (European Engineer, Ingénieur Européen, Europa-Ingenieur) by Engineers Europe – the European Federation of National Engineering Associations.ENTER (EngineeriNg educaTors pEdagogical tRaining) is a global initiative that promotes pedagogical excellence in engineering education, certifying trainers who meet high standards of technical and teaching competence. Through the International Professional Register of Engineering Educators, it grants internationally recognized credentials such as iPEER (International Professional Engineering Educator Registered), which validates the professional quality of engineering educators. Within this register, the Education Researcher profile is reserved for faculty members who conduct relevant research in education, publish results, participate in projects, and apply innovative methodologies in teaching.
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.