Order 177/2021

On 23 September 2021, the Council of Ministers approved a new resolution declaring an alert situation in the whole continental national territory until 11.59 pm on 31 October 2021.

The Government has also decided to amend, once 85% of the population has been vaccinated
and taking into account the gradual strategy of lifting measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, by resolution and decree-law, the measures in force as of 1 October.

Following this, the Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 135-A/2021 and Decree-Law no. 78-A/2021 of 29 September were published. 

All members of the academic community must comply with the determinations approved by the competent authorities, including the instructions of the health authorities, but this does not prevent university authorities from taking, within the scope of their competence, to take the necessary measures to address the pandemic situation.

This situation continues to demand from all members of the academic community, and especially students, to exercise restraint regarding a set of activities incompatible with the pandemic and which the country would not understand given the restraint that is required of it, among which are the academic traditions.

In view of this situation, it is also important to review the conditions in force at the University of Lisbon, adopting measures to the specific conditions of each Faculty.

The process of welcoming and integrating new students, which the Faculties must ensure while respecting the rules arising from the pandemic situation, is autonomous and should not be confused with humiliating and offensive practices, incompatible with a healthy welcome for new students.

Therefore, the University shall take the necessary measures to ensure the normal functioning of the academic year as much as possible, avoiding the emergence and development of outbreaks of infection, with potentially serious consequences for the whole population.

Thus, pursuant to article 26, no. 1, paragraph r) of the University Statutes and article 92 of RJIES, I hereby determine:

1. The Presidents or Directors of the Schools, the Administrator of the Social Services and the President of the University Stadium of Lisbon, shall adopt the necessary measures to comply with the recommendations and determinations arising from the law and health authorities, concerning the activities taking place in the facilities and spaces under their management, in order to avoid the appearance and development of sources of propagation of COVID 19 infection.
2. My Order 174/2021 is hereby revoked.
3. This Order shall take effect on 6 October 2021.

Rectory of the University of Lisbon, 6 October 2021.

António Manuel da Cruz Serra

Dean

 

Order 174/2021

At this time, when the 2021/2022 academic year begins and face-to-face teaching activities are resumed, some exceptional and temporary measures to address the current epidemiological situation caused by SARS-CoV-2 are still in force.

The beginning of the academic year implies the concentration of a large number of students and teachers, in the Schools of the University of Lisbon, not only in the various work, study and leisure areas of ULisboa, but also in all the areas that integrate and are adjacent to the University campuses.

It is the duty of the directors of ULisboa and its Schools (Faculties and Institutes) to take the necessary measures to prevent, contain and mitigate the spread of the infection in order to reduce the consequences of the pandemic situation, ensuring that the academic year can proceed with minimum disturbance and also safeguarding the image and prestige of the University.

All members of the academic community must comply with the determinations approved by the competent bodies, including the instructions from the health authorities, but this does not prevent university authorities from taking, within the scope of their competences, the necessary measures to deal with the pandemic situation.

This situation requires all members of the academic community, and especially students, to exercise restraint in carrying out some activities that are incompatible with the approved norms and whose realization the Country would not understand given the required restraint, among which the realization of academic traditions stands out.

The holding of academic traditions is not to be confused with the process of welcoming and integrating new students that the Schools ensure while respecting the rules arising from the pandemic situation.

Therefore, the University should take the necessary measures to ensure the normal functioning of the academic year as much as possible, avoiding the occurrence and development of outbreaks of infection, with the gravity that these assume for the whole population.

Thus, pursuant to article 26, no. 1, paragraph r) of the University Statutes and article 92 of RJIES, after hearing the University Coordination Council, I determine:

1. It is forbidden to carry out any activities related to academic traditions, whatever form they may take and wherever they may take place.
2. The use of masks is compulsory to access and remain in the University buildings belonging to the ULisboa campuses, with the exception of individual work spaces, or those excepted by the School Boards, Central Services and Social Services, always respecting the directives issued by the Health authorities.
3. The carrying out of any activities related to academic traditions, or the non-use of mask, in the places where it is mandatory, may constitute a disciplinary infraction, punishable, namely under the terms of RJIES and the Regulation attached to the Order no. 6441/2015, of 27 May 2015.
4. The Presidents or Directors of the Schools, the Administrator of the Social Services and the President of the University Stadium of Lisbon should take the necessary measures to comply with the present order, namely in what concerns activities that take place in all ULisboa premises and spaces, or those managed by it.

This order shall take effect on the present date.

Rectory of the University of Lisbon, 15 September 2021.

António Manuel da Cruz Serra

Dean

 

Order 15/2021

Recommendations concerning the adaptation of activities carried out at the University of Lisbon in the context of extraordinary emergency measures

In March 2020, the University of Lisbon decided to discontinue face-to-face teaching due to a growing number of infections that could cause an excessive burden on the health system. Today, 10 months later, we are facing the imminent collapse of this health system and we are dealing with an undetermined number of positive cases, but certainly more than 15.000 new cases per day. The number of deaths per day has exceeded two hundred, a figure unthinkable throughout the pandemic. These figures have consistently increased during this month of January.

The current situation can only be reversed if a very significant reduction in contacts and, as a consequence, the risk of infection is achieved. To this end, the immediate suspension of all non-essential face-to-face activities is decisive, avoiding all behaviour that contributes to the propagation of the pandemic, even if considered to be of moderate or reduced risk. In many cases it is not at all possible to control the crowding of students in teaching or examination activities, so in the current situation it is urgent to suspend all face-to-face activities.

Being essential to keep the academic community active in order to ensure that its functions are carried out and, at the same time, to prevent its inactivity from contributing to the spread of the pandemic, the suspension of face-to-face activities must be accompanied by a strengthening of all remote activities: pedagogical, research and administrative.

As the knowledge assessments for the 1st semester are currently being carried out in most of the Schools of the University of Lisbon, and as it is inadvisable and impracticable for most of these knowledge assessments to be carried out by remote means, the option of postponing them should be considered whenever necessary.

In this context and following the Government's decisions, the recommendations to be implemented are listed below, taking into account the specific situation of each School:

1. All teaching activities, with the possible exception of clinical teaching, should now use distance learning models;
2. Wherever possible, the teaching sequence of the course units with laboratory content, or equivalent, should be changed in order to postpone the face-to-face activity;
3. Teaching and evaluation timetables should be reformulated to allow that:

a) The knowledge assessments in face-to-face format will be postponed until the evolution of the pandemic allows the examinations to be carried out in face-to-face format, without prejudice to some of the assessments scheduled for the next few days, ensuring a strengthening of health security and remoteness measures.

b) When, through remote evaluation, the reliability of the evaluation processes can be guaranteed, this methodology is adopted. For example, exams with a small number of students, individual oral exams, project presentations and discussions, monographs or computer programs can be carried out at a distance with a video camera on and ensuring their reliability.

c) When evaluations for the 1st semester are postponed, teaching activities for the 2nd semester can be anticipated.

d) The supplementary assessment periods corresponding to the 1st half of the year should be postponed to the month of June or to a period of school holidays, when the evolution of the pandemic so permits.

e) If necessary, the special seasons can be postponed to September, in order to accommodate in June and July the face-to-face evaluations corresponding to the 2nd semester and the supplementary season of the 1st semester.

f) The discussion of theses and dissertations already scheduled or to be scheduled should take place remotely.

g) For students attending the University of Lisbon under mobility programmes, evaluation processes and dates adapted to their needs of return to their country of origin may be adopted.

4. Libraries may keep their operation in person or in a system of providing documentation for consultation outside the premises, depending on the particular conditions of each School, but always with reinforcement of the health safety conditions. Likewise, the study rooms may remain in operation, provided that the necessary distance between their users is guaranteed.

Schools will be able to allow the use of computer spaces and means, by students who need them, for the monitoring of remote teaching activities, maintaining strict health control measures.

In addition, these recommendations will be followed up:

1. The closing of bars;
2. The suspension of physical and sporting activities carried out indoors in the premises of the EUL and the Schools, with changing rooms being closed for all activities;
3. Public in the administrative services must be attended to remotely, with any attendance being subject to prior appointment, whenever duly justified.

These measures will be adjusted as necessary and as the situation evolves, and will be posted on the ULisboa websites.

Universidade de Lisboa, 21 January 2021

António da Cruz Serra

 

Order 257/2020

The 2020/2021 school year begins with the country in a pandemic caused by the SARS-COV 2 virus, which is a serious public health emergency with relevant economic and social consequences, which led, to the suspension of most classroom activities in higher education institutions in the 2019/2020 school year, with consequences at the beginning of the current school year.

Considering the uncertainties related to the current situation, ULisboa and its Schools have been adopting a set of measures, namely in the pedagogical field, which seek to adapt teaching and learning models to the conditions of public health protection imposed by the state of pandemic, always safeguarding the quality of the training provided, and the prestige and image of the academic degrees conferred by the University of Lisbon.

Accordingly, in the current school year it is planned that teaching activities will take place in person or semi-in person, with the Schools being prepared, taking into account the evolution of the pandemic, to be able to maintain teaching activities by using distance learning or combining face-to-face activities with distance learning.

On the other hand, taking into account the relevance of the assessment tests within the University for the normal course of the school year, it is important that everyone, especially students, knows, from the beginning of the school year, what rules have been adopted for the assessment of knowledge and skills.

Under the terms of the law and the Statutes of the University of Lisbon, the Rector is responsible for "Leading in academic management, deciding, in particular, on the opening of calls, the appointment and hiring of staff, in any capacity, the appointment of selection boards and academic tests and the system and regulations for the evaluation of teachers and students", as well as "Taking the necessary measures to ensure the quality of teaching and research at the University and its Schools ...".

The credibility of the system of assessment of knowledge and skills is a decisive factor in the prestige of the academic degrees conferred by the University of Lisbon, and to this end, it is essential that the assessment tests are carried out, except in exceptional situations duly substantiated and authorised, in a face-to-face manner, and that the Schools take the necessary measures to achieve this goal.

Thus, under the terms of paragraphs e) and l) of no. 1 of article 26 of the Statutes of the University, and paragraph d) of no. 1 of article 92 of the RJIES, and after consulting the University Coordination Council, I determine that:

1. In the course of the 2020/2021 school year, unless aggravated containment or other measures are enacted by the Government to prevent it, as long as the assessment of knowledge and skills of a course unit, regardless of the cycle of studies in which it is integrated, includes taking a written examination, proof of attendance or written test, these assessments must be carried out in person.

2. By decision of the President or Director, after consulting the Education Board, of each School, in exceptional and duly justified situations, the taking of the face-to-face examination may be waived if the following cumulative requirements are met:

(i) the identity of the student being assessed is proven, ensuring that the student being assessed is the one who actually takes the assessment test;
(ii) in the course of the assessment test, the assessed student is not allowed to obtain information other than that contained in the predefined consultation elements;
(iii) there are equivalence conditions in terms of the object of assessment and the level of requirement of the tests to be performed by all students being assessed.

3. The Presidents or Directors of the Schools of the University of Lisbon must take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with this Order.

4. This Orders shall take effect on the following date.

Universidade de Lisboa, 29 September 2020

António Manuel da Cruz Serra

Rector

 

Order 241/2020

Since March 2020, the country has been experiencing a pandemic caused by the SARS-COV 2 virus which, together with representing a serious public health emergency, has had numerous economic and social consequences, leading in particular to the closure of educational institutions.

At a time when the 2020/2021 school year is beginning, at all levels of education, and the country is facing a daily increase in the number of infections, it is necessary and urgent to implement measures to prevent, contain and mitigate the transmission of the infection.

To address this situation, the Government, through Council of Ministers Resolution 70-A/2020 of 10 September, declared once again the contingency situation in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic, renewing a set of exceptional measures to contain it.

Regarding the Lisbon and Oporto Metropolitan Areas, the measures taken are even more restrictive, given the greater seriousness of the pandemic situation in these metropolitan areas.

The beginning of the school year implies the concentration of a large number of students and teachers in the Schools of the University of Lisbon, not only in the various work, study and leisure spaces of ULisboa, but also in all the areas that integrate and are adjacent to the University campuses.

It is the duty of the leaders of ULisboa and its Schools (Faculties and Institutes) to take the necessary measures to prevent, contain and mitigate the transmission of the infection in order to reduce the consequences of the pandemic situation, ensuring that the operation of the school year can take place with the minimum of disruption and also safeguarding the image and prestige of the University.

All members of the academic community must comply with the determinations approved by the competent authorities, including the instructions of the health authorities, but this does not prevent the university authorities from taking, within the framework of their competence, the necessary measures to cope with the pandemic situation.

This situation demands from all members of the academic community, and especially from students, restraint in relation to a number of activities, which are incompatible with the approved norms and whose performance the country would not understand, among which are the academic traditions.

The implementation of academic traditions is not to be confused with the process of welcoming and integrating new students, which the Schools ensure in compliance with the rules arising from the pandemic situation.

The University must therefore take the necessary measures to ensure that the school year operates as normally as possible, avoiding the development of outbreaks of infection, with serious consequences for the whole population.

Thus, in accordance with Article 26(1)(r) of the University Statutes, and Article 92 of the RJIES, after consulting the University Coordination Council, I determine that:

1. It is forbidden to carry out any activities relating to academic traditions, whatever form they may take and wherever they take place.

2. The use of masks is mandatory in all spaces of the ULisboa campuses, inside the buildings and in outdoor spaces, with the exception of the individual work spaces and the sports and leisure activities at the University Stadium, or those that are excepted by the Schools, Central Services and Social Action Services, always respecting the directives issued by the Health authorities.

3. The performance of academic traditions, or the non-use of a mask, in places where it is mandatory, constitutes a disciplinary infraction, punished, namely in accordance with the RJIES and the Regulation annexed to Order 6441/2015, of 27 May 2015.

4. The Presidents or Directors of the Schools, the Administrator of the Social Action Services and the President of the University Stadium must take the necessary measures to comply with this Order, particularly with regard to the activities that take place in all ULisboa's facilities and spaces, or managed by ULisboa, which include gardens, lanes and spaces adjacent to the buildings.

5. This Order shall take effect on the following date.

Universidade de Lisboa, 21 September 2020

António Manuel da Cruz Serra

Rector

 

ULisboa maintains suspension of activities

As is publicly known, the Universidade de Lisboa, since 9 March, has been putting into practice a set of measures that have included the interruption of in-person teaching activities and the widespread adoption of distance learning and teleworking.

Considering the evolution of the Covid-19 situation in Portugal, and the state of emergency that has been declared in the meantime, it is necessary to perspective the University's activities until the end of the current school year, providing stability and planning capacity to its students, many of them displaced from their usual residences.

Therefore, following today's meeting of the University Coordination Council, it was decided to adopt the following measures:

• Maintain the suspension of all classroom activities, replacing them with distance learning and content dissemination procedures that allow students to follow school activities;
• To guarantee that all the teaching and evaluation activities of the school year 2019/2020 will take place until the end of July, without prejudice of exceptions such as the conclusion of dissertations and final master's and doctoral studies, or the accomplishment, always with exceptional character, of occasional activities related to practical and laboratorial competences acquisition;
• To promote, in all evaluation activities, the evaluation of knowledge by remote means, through existing platforms or platforms to be made available;
• To adopt the necessary measures to ensure the participation of all students and teachers in distance teaching and evaluation activities.

In the case of teaching and evaluation activities which, due to their specific nature, require the physical presence of students in the Schools or in other places of training, such as clinical practice in the field of Medicine, the Schools shall adopt procedures which, without compromising the training inherent in these activities, may replace them. In the exceptional case of clinical years of Dentistry, the management of the FMD may postpone the date of conclusion of the present school year.

These measures will be adjusted according to the need and the evolution of the situation, and will be published on ULisboa's websites.

Universidade de Lisboa, 8 April 2020

The Rectory

 

To all Members, staff and students of ULisboa

Given the evolution and spread of the COVID-19 virus, the academic community of the Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa) is strongly encouraged to follow the guidance below:

• Travel, especially to regions where active transmission of COVID-19 has been reported, should be cancelled or postponed; priority should be given to working from home. The list of countries affected by the new coronavirus is being updated on a daily basis by the DGS [the Directorate-General of Health], so please refer to this site for further information (https://www.dgs.pt/corona-virus);
• Scientific meetings or other gatherings involving international participants or large concentrations of people where the virus may be more easily transmitted should also be avoided. International congresses scheduled for ULisboa should be postponed and members of the ULisboa community should cancel their participation in similar meetings;  
• Members, staff and students of ULisboa returning from an affected area should adopt the following measures, pursuant to 005/2020 of the DGS 
• Be vigilant of symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath;
• Find Out whether anyone with whom they have had close contact has developed any of the above-mentioned symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath);
• If any member of the ULisboa community or family member present any of the above symptoms, they should not immediately go to their health services. Instead, they should call the health helpline SNS24 (National Health Service 24) (808 24 24 24), follow the given advice and inform the board of their Faculty or Institute, SCUL [University Administration] or SAS [Social Services], as appropriate.
• Maintain responsible social distancing and avoid closed and busy spaces during the 14 days after returning from travel.

All members, staff and students of ULisboa should also follow the guidance   below, issued by the DGS:

• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water and scrub them for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after handling food, before meals, after bathroom use, and whenever your hands are visibly dirty; 
• Alternatively, use an alcohol-based hand rub;
• Use a disposable tissue to blow your nose;
• Dispose the tissue in the bin and wash your hands;
• Cough or sneeze into your arm elbow flexed and not into your hands;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with hands that are unwashed or contaminated by respiratory secretions;
• In the case of suspected COVID-19 symptoms, based on the information advanced by the DGS, namely acute respiratory infection (fever, cough or shortness of breath), possibly requiring hospitalization, having travelled to areas affected by the virus 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms, or having been in contact with an infected, or potentially infected by SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 person in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms, or a health professional or a person who has been in close contact with a health institution where COVID-19 patients are treated, should immediately contact the above-mentioned hospital helpline.
   

For more detailed DGS guidance information

Members, staff and students of ULisboa will be immediately informed of any new guidance applicable to public services in general, to public higher education Institutions and to ULisboa in particular. 

António Manuel da Cruz Serra

Rector, Universidade de Lisboa