Innovation Europe > News > Innovation EU Vol1-1 > University of the Azores

The University of the Azores (UAc) was created in 1976 and is established in the three main islands: São Miguel, Terceira and Faial. It has over 4,000 students in nearly 60 courses covering all levels of post-secondary and higher education, in a broad spectrum of areas, from Literature and History through Economy and Management to the Exact and Natural Sciences. Its 400 teachers work within a structure of university departments and politechnic schools:
São Miguel Island

• Departments of Biology, Education, Literature, Mathematics, Economy and Management, Earth Sciences, Technological Sciences and Development, History Philosophy and Social Sciences;
• Higher School of Nursing of Ponta Delgada. Terceira Island
• Department of Agricultural Sciences;
• Higher School of Nursing of Angra do Heroísmo. Faial Island
• Department of Oceanography and Fisheries.

We are a digital university: the administration is paperless and meetings are routinely held by video-conference. There is an advanced implementation of a virtual learning environment to create a stronger link between students and teachers and increase the productivity of the independent work. A growing number of post-graduation courses are delocalized, with students attending video-conference classes and working in virtual classrooms.

The same innovation spirit is present in the research carried out in the eight university research centers and multiple smaller research groups, most of which have been classified as excellent or very good by independent international evaluations. With a strong link to the graduate study programs, research in the University of the Azores is focused on local issues but framed within an international context. R&D projects cover the broad range of areas corresponding to the university departments. Three main areas can be highlighted, for their technological relevance and international impact.

The Marine Sciences is one of the fields where the UAc has focused since the beginning.The main fields of research are: molecular genetics, eco-toxicology, satellite oceanography, physical oceanography, fisheries dynamics, behavioural ecology, bio-telemetry, acoustic of the seabed and water column in view of the mapping of habitats and biodiversity and scenarios for seagoing technologies. One research group has become one of the leading worldwide teams in terms of seamount and hydrothermal vent studies, being considered by the Research*EU: Magazine of the European Research Area, one of the nine “main pillars of European oceanographic excellence”. Important milestones have been achieved, devising and proceeding to the installation of new technological capabilities which are leading to a breakthrough in advanced areas of research, both pure and applied.

In a volcanic region, the Earth Sciences are an obvious focus for research, which has concentrated on plate boundary processes, with a particular focus on volcanic and seismological hazard prediction and management. The monitoring strategies that are being developed are of international importance and enjoy strong support at local government level.

Biotechnology is an emerging research field, already with national credits in many areas of agricultural biotechnology, namely via the genotyping of cultivars and endemic animals. This aspect is now the basis for the research of genes endowing desirable characteristics and also typification in products. From a fundamental viewpoint, the research has bridged the gap between academic excellence and exploitation of data for feasible applications.

The UAc has strong links with partner institutions at the national and international level. Its laboratories, research vessels and lecture theaters have been used to support research projects, summer courses, conferences and seminars.

University of the Azores
Rua Mãe de Deus, 13A
9501-801 Ponta Delgada
Açores, PORTUGAL
Tel: + 351 296 650 003
Fax: + 351 296 650 005
E-mail: uacgeral@uac.pt
Website: www.uac.pt