The Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education made an “extremely positive” evaluation of the 3rd phase of the Carnegie Mellon Portugal (CMU Portugal) scientific program, but remitted the decision to continue the project to June.
Elvira Fortunato was in the North American city of Pittsburgh from Sunday to Tuesday, in a visit dedicated to the balance of the 3rd phase and future of the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program, and told Lusa that she received “an extremely positive surprise” in relation to the offer of the scientific areas of the program.
I was expecting to see areas more related to Computer Science and was extremely positively surprised, because they actually have a lot more areas besides that, namely nanofabrication and robotics. And the balance is very positive”, said the minister, who held meetings with doctoral students for three days within the framework of this program.
According to Elvira Fortunato, the visit served not only to evaluate the continuity of the alliances, but also possible reformulations, “because science evolves and there is a need to innovate“.
I take this opportunity to mention that this alliance with Carnegie Mellon University is the only one of the three alliances that allows a double doctoral degree, that is, a student who completes his doctorate obtains not only the title at this North American university, but also at the Portuguese university. in which he is registered, something that does not exist in the other two companies. And that is very important, ”he stressed.
Portugal maintains an international partnership with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) since 2016, involving Portuguese universities, associated laboratories in the area of Information and Communication Technologies, among other national entities, in addition to 11 CMU Departments, around 150 companies and more than 400 professors and senior researchers on mobility in Portugal and the United States, according to government data.
However, questioned by Lusa about the future of the program, the minister said that this decision must be made in June by the Foundation for Science and Technologytogether with the Portuguese scientific community.
In Lusa, the director of the CMU Portugal Program at Carnegie Mellon University, José Moura, indicated that this visit by the minister allowed a global perspective of what the program is, based on its initiatives in the area of education, which include doctorates granted simultaneously by two universities, to research projects.
It was an excellent opportunity to interact and visit some of the CMU Departments and research laboratories. There were three days of student presentations, projects and work meetings with professors and students, as well as with the CMU administration at all levels, said José Moura.
Throughout the visit, Elvira Fortunato was accompanied by the Portuguese ambassador to the United States, Francisco Duarte Lopes, and by the president of the Foundation for Science and Technology, Madalena Alves.
On the continuity of the program, José Moura has stressed that it is “a decision that corresponds” to the minister and the Government. “On the side of CMU and our partners, we are ready to continue the partnership whose results we are proud of.”, he is stressed.
José Moura was also satisfied with the presence of some 30 students from the program this year at the CMU, to which 17 students from Portugal will also join.
Since its inception, postgraduate training in the form of a double degree has been a fundamental pillar of the CMU Portugal Program. (…) At this stage of the program, we also have dual and affiliate students who are involved in research projects in a business context, creating opportunities for high-quality research work, but with a direct impact on business strategy and the Portuguese economy. “, noticed.
Source: Observadora
