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.

On November 23rd, ISEL celebrated Native Forest Day with an initiative integrated into the ISEL Eco-Campus program, dedicated to promoting biodiversity and environmental sustainability.The event brought together professors, non-professors, and students who, under the guidance of Vítor Gordo, mentor of the Biodiversity Islands project, joined together to plant native trees on campus. The initiative also included the participation of an 8th-grade class from Olaias, who helped remove invasive species and replant native plants, reinforcing the importance of environmental education and cooperation between institutions.Native forests, composed of species native to the territory, play an essential role in ecological balance, serving as a refuge for local fauna and exhibiting greater resistance to pests, diseases, and extreme phenomena such as droughts or heavy rains. These characteristics contribute to soil fertility and the preservation of natural landscapes.See the photo album on Flickr.

As part of the ISEL Eco-Campus program, new outdoor wellness areas have been created, with chairs designed for resting, studying, or socializing.Located in the outdoor courtyards of buildings E and G and in the corridor of building P near the circular economy cabinet, these new areas invite the entire academic community to better enjoy the school's outdoor spaces.This initiative reinforces ISEL's commitment to improving outdoor spaces, making the campus more sustainable and enjoyable for everyone.Come and discover and enjoy these new rest areas!

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.