U.Porto Memory

University of Porto Day

From the year 2000 onwards, the Rector of the University of Porto, Professor José Novais Barbosa, proposed that a "University of Porto Day" be celebrated, to commemorate the institution and to bring its members together, but also to serve as a platform for debate on the present and future of the university institution. In effect, the solemn opening session for classes – which has fallen out of use in the university, although each faculty has maintained the practice individually – has proven to be an ineffective central university event, as a global expression of the institution, due to the fact that each school begins classes in an individual way.

The date chosen for the "University of Porto Day" was 22^nd March, the date on which the Provisional Government of the Republic decreed that the University of Porto be founded in 1911.

The "University Day" has included various different activities. Each year, a central theme is adopted, which is reflected in the solemn session or in debates carried out during the day. External individuality is always the goal, along with focusing on an outstanding figure within the Porto university community, presenting a thematic talk. Other speeches are invariably given by the Rector, a student and a member of the non-teaching staff.

The "University Day" has also been considered a suitable opportunity to distinguish members of the university community: staff, non-teaching staff and students and, in some cases, external figures. Finally, it is also used to allow the Rector to present to the community new buildings, venues or projects relating to the university.

From 2003 onwards, the University Day has become associated with a new representational event: Science, Teaching and Innovation Display at the University of Porto, at which the faculties and research centres show their activities to the public at large (mainly to students).

Finally, it is of note that the University Day is closed with a yearly sarau by the Orfeão Universitário do Porto (OUP) (OUP - University choral society).