The eight student representatives on the Education Board of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon were sworn in on Wednesday at a brief ceremony attended by the Dean, Luís Ferreira. The student representatives’ term of office lasts for two years.
Student representatives take their seats on the Education Board
Hugo Séneca
Higher Education•7 May, 2026
The students Leonor Pestana, Beatriz Barroso, Afonso Simões, Mário Daniel Vilas, Rita Pereira, Maria Leal, Thyago Filho, and professor Margarida Cruz, were welcomed by the Dean Luís Ferreira, the Vice-Dean Jorge Relvas, and the Vice-Dean Fernanda Nogueira
The full members include Mário Daniel Vilas, from the Department of Earth Sciences and Energy (DCTE); Rita Pereira, from the Department of Mathematical Sciences (DCM); Afonso Simões, from the Department of Physics (DF); Leonor Pestana, from the DCTE; Thyago Filho, from the Department of Biology (DB); Maria Guerreiro, from the Department of Informatics (DI); Gonçalo Viegas, from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (DQB); and Maria Leal, from the DI. This group is further joined by the substitute members, comprising Carolina Magina, from DCTE; Pedro Azoia, from DF; Amélia Ávila, from DB; João Gil, from DI; Beatriz Procópio, from DF; Tiago Mascaro, from DQB; Beatriz Barroso, from DQB; and Pedro Arez, from DCM. All representatives belong to the Servir Ciências list.
The Education Board is one of the governing bodies of CIÊNCIAS. It comprises eight student representatives and eight staff representatives. The list of student representatives was selected by students participating in the pedagogical committees of the various degrees. Following the recent update to the Faculty statutes, future processes for selecting student representatives will now follow new rules.
Luís Ferreira took the opportunity to praise the “act of generosity” shown by those who combine student representation duties with their academic studies, but he also highlighted the need to maintain “a keen ability to listen to fellow students”, which should prove particularly useful in conveying the concerns and suggestions the students.
At the end of the ceremony, Margarida Cruz, a professor in the Department of Physics and president of the Education Board, thanked the students for volunteering to “work for the Faculty”.
“The main aim of this student list is to rebuild students’ trust in the Education Board. We want to show that the Education Board takes action and has the capacity to influence day-to-day life at the Faculty of Sciences of ULisboa” explains Mário Daniel Vilas.
Among the main objectives of the new term of office, Mário Daniel Vilas highlights the Knowledge Assessment Regulations, which are currently being amended. The whole Education Board will have to work together to reach an agreement on the assessment methods and criteria that may come into force in the near future. “The aim of amending these Regulations is to ensure they are adapted to the times we live in today, through continuous assessment or even the introduction of new assessment mechanisms,” adds the student.
Educational surveys are also a key focus for student representatives. Mário Daniel Vilas rejects the common perception that the answers to these surveys are not analysed by the Education Board and do little to bring about changes to practices or address the issues raised by students with the Faculty’s management.
“We want students to know that the complaints and suggestions they put forward are heard and discussed by the Education Board” the student adds. A two-year term follows.