THE NEW ONES AND THE USUAL ONES

In a short period of time, three of INESC TEC's most prized partner institutions - the Universities of Porto and of Minho and the Polytechnic Institute of Porto saw new leaders assuming theirs posts.

Two new Rectors, a new President: we're not going to analyse the work of former members nor comment on the responsibilities of the new ones. INESC TEC welcomes them all with great respect.

What is worth celebrating is the continuity beyond what is transitional like the mandates of who are leaving and of those that are coming. Through decades, and common to all actors, was the firm policy of permanent institutional support granted to INESC TEC that greatly contributed to the institution being recognized as it is today.

Let us be clear: INESC TEC has never been a problem, it never caused difficulties or took hours of sleep from the many university leaders, never brought problems, debts or work contracts into the academy, never presented deficits, never requested free or extra funding or freelance work. Looking back to what has been done, INESC TEC always showed balanced accounts (and in 2018 it will already celebrate 20 years as an independent association) and delivered the academic institutions two things, each in its precious way: prestige and physical patrimony.

When INESC TEC presents itself internationally and we are asked: how did INESC TEC succeed? We answer: with hard work, and then we proudly comment that if it wasn’t for the consistent and decades of support of successive Rectories and Polytechnic Presidencies, none of this would have been achieved.

This consistency, this political coherence is really admirable. Portugal is also made of good things.

And we serve them all: rectors, the University, country, people and our dreams.