Lusófona University joins the governing board of the European CONRIS network

Lusófona University has strengthened its international presence by joining the governing board of the CONRIS – Cooperation Network for Risk, Safety & Security Studies, one of Europe's leading networks dedicated to risk management, civil protection, safety and resilience.

The decision was taken during the CONRIS Annual Meeting, held at ISEN University in Cartagena, Spain, which brought together representatives from universities and institutions across several European countries to define the network's strategic priorities and prepare future scientific and academic cooperation initiatives.

Among the meeting's main decisions was the approval of a new CONRIS governance model. The former role of Chair has been replaced by a Small Board, composed of three representatives from partner institutions. Lusófona University will be represented on this governing body by Professor André Rodrigues, a lecturer in the Department of Civil Protection.

This appointment represents significant recognition of Lusófona University's active contribution to the development of the network and the role the institution has played in the teaching, research and cooperation activities promoted by CONRIS. Becoming part of its governing board just three and a half years after joining the network, and only a year and a half after becoming a full member, demonstrates the impact and relevance of the University's work within this international context.

During the same week, the CONRIS Summer School also took place, bringing together lecturers, researchers and students from nine European countries to promote collaborative learning, knowledge sharing and the development of future cooperation initiatives.

As part of the Summer School, Professor André Rodrigues led the session "Integrated Wildfire Management: Challenges for Civil Protection", focusing on the challenges of integrated wildfire management and the role of Civil Protection in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery from extreme events.

The annual meeting also laid the foundations for future editions of the CONRIS Summer School. The 2027 edition will be held in the Netherlands, while a bid is being prepared for the city of Porto to host the 2028 edition, with the final decision to be made at the network's next annual meeting.

Lusófona University's appointment to the CONRIS governing board marks another milestone in the institution's internationalisation strategy, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence, applied research and European cooperation in the fields of Civil Protection, Risk Management and Resilience.