Boris Walbaum: “The world is moving faster than universities, and the gap is widening”

In an interview, the co-founder of Forward College discusses why traditional higher education is failing to keep pace with a rapidly changing world, the role of AI in learning, and how his institution uses a hybrid model of academic excellence, social skills, and real-world projects to prepare students for an uncertain future.

A grey April at the Nova University of Lisbon

The institutional crisis at the Nova University of Lisbon reveals that we live our democracy with the vices of the past dictatorship. A column by Edgar Coimbra.

Election of the rector of the Nova University of Lisbon fails to take place again

The election of the rector had already been postponed last week due to a lack of the necessary quorum in the General Council, in a process that has been dragging on since last year.

NOVA rector election fails to take place again

The election for the rector of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA), scheduled for Thursday morning, April 30, did not take place due to a lack of quorum in the General Council. This is the second time the election has been cancelled despite a court order to repeat the process. The university maintains it has complied with all legal requirements and that the current rector, Paulo Pereira, remains in office. The election process has been stalled since last year following a legal challenge by candidate Pedro Maló regarding eligibility criteria. The court has since declined to rule on the legality of the election due to a procedural failure.

Election of the Nova de Lisboa rector fails again due to lack of quorum

The general council has once again failed to choose the new rector of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. A repeat of the election, ordered by the court, was scheduled for this Thursday, April 30, but the event did not take place due to a lack of quorum in the general council. This is the second time the election has failed to occur.

Read this Thursday's DV, April 30th, here

The main highlight of this week's DV is: Two-thirds of the major measures in the new RRP were already planned in the State Budget. The main photo focuses on a new business that is thriving: German company FRS sails towards revenues exceeding two million with corporate cruises on the Tagus. Also highlighted is an interview with Boris Walbaum, founder of the disruptive Forward College: 'The world is moving faster than universities, and the gap is widening.' Read these and other topics from this week's Dinheiro Vivo in the full supplement, which you can download here. See the front page in detail.

UNM Anderson EMBA cohort spends an immersive week in Lisbon

UNM Newsroom29 Apr

Brazilian Consulate in Lisbon extends registration for competition aimed at students in Portugal

The registration deadline for the 'Friends of Brazil' competition has been extended to 8 May following requests from schools in Portugal. The initiative, promoted by the Consulate-General of Brazil in Lisbon in partnership with the Guimarães Rosa Institute and the Brazilian Embassy, is open to students from the 5th to 12th grade living in the country. The competition encourages reflection on the friendship between Brazil and Portugal, as well as themes of interculturality and integration. Groups of two to five students, including at least two different nationalities, can submit entries in categories such as handwritten essays, videos, or drawings and paintings. Prizes can reach €500 per group, and teachers from schools with high participation rates are eligible to win a trip to Brazil.

dnbrasil.dn.pt27 Apr

Consulate extends registration for the Friends of Brazil competition until 8 May

The consulate has pushed back the deadline for entries to the Amigos e Amigas do Brasil competition to 8 May.

Government delivers proposal for a new teacher recruitment process to unions today

Meetings are scheduled throughout the morning and early afternoon this Monday at the Ministry of Education.

Lisbon's educational charter, transitions and the Rainha Santa Isabel School

In the lead-up to the approval of Lisbon's new Educational Charter, concerns have been raised by parents at the Rainha Santa Isabel School regarding abrupt changes to school pathways. The author discusses the complexities of the reorganization, noting that while the Charter is a necessary structural advancement for the city, the transition process for students moving between schools—such as from Josefa de Óbidos to Manuel da Maia—requires better communication and planning. The author highlights a proposed transition period to allow current students to complete their cycle, emphasizing that successful public policy must balance long-term planning with the needs of the community.

Court does not analyse legality of NOVA University rector election due to procedural failure

The Lisbon Administrative Court did not rule on the legality of the decision to reschedule the NOVA University rector election for 24 April 2026. In a ruling today, the judge concluded that the lawsuit filed by four professors had a decisive procedural flaw: the rector candidates, who would be directly affected by an annulment, were not identified or summoned as interested parties. Consequently, the court dismissed the case without addressing the merits, leaving the core dispute regarding the legitimacy of the General Council to oversee the election unresolved.

Universidade Nova: Election of new rector postponed again

Due to a lack of quorum in the university's General Council, the election of the new rector of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa has been postponed. The next step may involve holding elections for the Council first.

Lack of quorum halts repeat election for rector of Nova de Lisboa

The election process for the new rector of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa has not yet concluded. The repeat election was scheduled for this Friday, April 24, but the event did not take place as the necessary quorum was not met in the general council, the university reports. Three of the candidates have already...

Elections for rector of the Nova University of Lisbon did not take place due to lack of quorum

The process has been surrounded by several legal disputes. The elections, scheduled for this Friday, did not take place because the necessary members of the General Council were not present.

Universidade Nova forces rector election: three candidates to be absent

The submission of a reasoned resolution suspends the elected officials from the injunction. Only the current rector will enter the selection process.

Three candidates for rector of Nova de Lisboa refuse to participate in this Friday's election

Three candidates for the position of rector at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa have declared they will not participate in the election scheduled for this Friday, after the Lisbon Administrative Court accepted an injunction suspending the electoral process. The university, on its website, maintains that the election will proceed as planned. Elvira Fortunato, João...

Talent Development Committee meets with Portuguese chamber of commerce representatives and University of Lisbon to jointly promote talent policies

gov.mo23 Apr

Lisbon: Educational Charter approved by Assembly, including grouping change for Rainha Santa Isabel Primary School

The new Educational Charter for Lisbon is now officially in effect. Despite criticism regarding school grouping changes, the Municipal Assembly approved the document with support from the governing coalition (PSD, CDS, IL) and Chega. The Left Bloc voted against it, while other parties abstained. A key point of contention was the transfer of Rainha Santa Isabel Primary School to a different grouping, which parents opposed. The changes, affecting teacher recruitment and student paths, will take effect in the 2027/28 school year. The charter outlines a long-term plan for structural renovations in 49 schools and the construction of 27 new ones, with an investment of over 1 billion euros. The city is now seeking external funding, including potential PRR resources, to address urgent school infrastructure needs.

Ministry of Education to fund student residences with sale of former headquarters

The Ministry of Education will invest the approximately 5.3 million euros paid by the Open University for the sale of the former headquarters located on Avenida 5 de Outubro into the construction of student residences, the minister said this Tuesday. Speaking to the parliamentary committee on Education and Science, Fernando Alexandre responded to opposition criticism regarding the sale.

Universidade NOVA repeats rector election amid legal challenge

Universidade NOVA de Lisboa is preparing to repeat its rector election on April 24th following a court ruling that invalidated the previous process. The university is currently embroiled in a dispute over whether the outgoing General Council has the legal authority to oversee the new vote or if it should wait for the newly elected council. While the current rector, Paulo Pereira, maintains that the process is legally sound and necessary to comply with the court's decision, a group of professors led by António Nogueira Leite has filed a legal challenge, seeking to suspend the election until the legitimacy of the governing body is clarified.

Unions oppose staffing maps for teachers

Fenprof fears that the new teaching career statute will bring changes to the employment relationship with the State and that there may be room to eliminate jobs.

12:00 PM. Minister of Education meets with teachers' unions

The government is negotiating teachers' career paths while FENPROF protests outside the Ministry of Education. Additionally, the Minister of Infrastructure states that the green pass is a unique success story for CP.

National Conservatory music school returns to Bairro Alto, in Lisbon, this September

Activity resumes on Rua dos Caetanos after eight years in temporary facilities at the Marquês de Pombal Secondary School in Belém. The school has launched a donation campaign to purchase an organ.

Demonstration and strikes threaten to close schools this Friday

A demonstration organised by the CGTP in Lisbon this Friday, April 17, under the slogan 'Down with the labour package', is expected to impact both public and private sectors. Several unions, including Fenprof, STAL, and Fiequimetal, have called for strikes, leading many schools to warn parents that they may be forced to close. Filinto Lima, president of the ANDAEP, expects high participation from teaching and non-teaching staff, warning parents—especially those with children in preschool and primary school—to be prepared for potential closures. The protest highlights growing dissatisfaction with negotiations regarding the new Teaching Career Statute (ECD). Fenprof secretary-general Francisco Gonçalves notes that teacher participation in CGTP protests has increased this academic year, and warns that if the government does not reach a favourable agreement, the teacher shortage crisis will worsen. Further protests are expected throughout the term, with another demonstration already scheduled for May 16.

Lisbon launches “Seeing the World Better” project

The initiative will provide free screenings in schools, specialist consultations, and the distribution of glasses to up to 500 socially vulnerable students per year between 2026 and 2028.

AML to request documents regarding Rainha Santa Isabel school

Two representatives from the parents' and guardians' association detailed the “direct implications” of the move. They mention the distance from the school cluster's headquarters and the discontinuity of the school cycle.

Lisbon Municipal Assembly to request documents regarding the transfer of Rainha Santa Isabel school

The decision was made following the hearing of representatives of a petition against the change of the school's grouping.