- Independente University
Independente University (in Portuguese "Universidade Independente" or UnI for short) was a
private university , headquartered inLisbon ,Portugal , founded in1993 by Luís Arouca, Rui Verde and Amadeu Lima Carvalho. It was compulsorily closed by state education authorities in 2007. [ [http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1308882 Em cumprimento do despacho do Ministério do Ensino Superior Universidade Independente já transferiu todos os alunos e encerra na quarta-feira] , 26th October 2007,Público ]Closure
In March 2007, UnI was placed under investigation on alleged irregularities on several matters. In April
2007 , it was in talks to merge with another private university, the "Universidade Internacional ". [ [http://semanal.expresso.clix.pt/1caderno/pais.asp?edition=1793&articleid=ES249195 Fusão à vista na Independente] , Fernando Diogo and Monica Contreras inExpresso (edition 1797 -6th April 2007) (in Portuguese)] On9 April 2007, the Portuguese Minister of Science, Technolgy andHigher Education ,Mariano Gago , announced that UnI would be shut down by thePortuguese Government after the investigation reported serious pedagogical, ethical and financial irregularities.Prominent graduates
*
José Sócrates , the Portuguese prime-minister, member of thePortuguese Socialist Party , earned his "licenciatura" (licentiate ) degree incivil engineering from UnI in1996 . Since the outburst of the UnIscandal and loss of credibility of the institution, the media investigated Sócrates' student file and found inconsistencies which raised suspicions of irregularities. State authorities investigated the case and archived the file as the suspictions against José Sócrates turned out to be unfounded. On the other hand, the university itself was investigated by education state authorities in 2007, which resulted in the compulsory closing of UnI due to lack of academic rigour and teaching quality, along with generalized managerial and financial chaos in the institution.
*Armando Vara , Portuguese politician, member of thePortuguese Socialist Party , former Minister, and banking administrator. He was awarded a degree by UnI in 2005.Prominent professors
*
Alberto João Jardim , President of the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region ofMadeira for over 20 years, member of thePortuguese Social Democratic Party , was an Invited Professor at UnI. [ [http://www.uni.pt/homepages/docentes/jjardim/cv.htm] ]ee also
*
Diploma mill
*Higher education in Portugal
*List of colleges and universities in Portugal References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
