University of the Algarve

Infobox University
name =University of the Algarve
native_name =Universidade do Algarve
latin_name =


motto =
established =1970s
type =Public University
rector =
students = ca. 10,000
staff =
city =Faro
country =Portugal
campus =
affiliations =
website = [http://www.ualg.pt www.ualg.pt]

The University of the Algarve (Universidade do Algarve or UAlg for short) is a Portuguese public university with administrative and financial autonomy. Its two campuses and the central administration are located in Faro, the capital city of the Algarve region. It has about 10,000 students.

History and organisation

It was founded at the end of the 1970s. During the 1980s, the former and short-lived Polytechnic Institute of Faro, was incorporated into the University of the Algarve, but as a totally independent institution in terms of staff, curricula, and competences, remaining a full public polytechnic institution within a larger and independent public university. The university is thus an unusual example of the cohabitation of two distinct subsystems of higher education in the same institution: university and polytechnic. The university subsystem is organised by faculty. The polytechnic subsystem is organised by school.

University of the Algarve's highest academic official has the title of "Reitor" (Rector) and is responsible, on behalf of the institution, for the running and maintenance of faculties and schools, the organisation and planning of courses, as well as the administration of its finances and subsidiary services.

The University of the Algarve is particularly well-known for its marine biology & fisheries and oceanography "licenciatura" degrees (in Portuguese: "cursos de licenciatura"), offered by its Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty.UAlg awards "licenciatura" degrees (1st cycle undergraduate bachelor's degree); "mestrado" degrees (2nd cycle graduate masters' degree); and "doutoramento" degrees (3rd cycle graduate doctorate degree - only awarded by the university faculties) in several fields.

Faculties (Gambelas Campus)

University higher education is provided by five faculties:
* [http://www.ualg.pt/feua Faculty of Economics]
* [http://www.ualg.pt/fern Faculty of Natural Resources Engineering]
* [http://www.ualg.pt/fchs Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences]
* [http://www.ualg.pt/fcma Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences]
* [http://www.ualg.pt/fct Faculty of Sciences & Technology]

Polytechnic schools (Penha Campus)

Polytechnic higher education is provided by four schools:
* [http://www.ualg.pt/ese School of Education]
* [http://www.esght.ualg.pt/ School of Management, Hotelary and Tourism]
* [http://www.ualg.pt/est School of Technology]
* [http://www.ualg.pt/essaf School of Health]

Sports and Culture

The University has a students' union called the University of the Algarve Academic Association ("Associação Académica da Universidade do Algarve"). The Academic Association organises cultural events such as Theatre, Music activities and Journalism for students, and also sporting events and training in sports such as rugby union, football, jujutsu, cycling, etc.

See also

*List of universities in Portugal
*Higher education in Portugal

External links

* [http://www.ualg.pt Universidade do Algarve]