ULusófona welcomes new Erasmus students at the start of the 26/27 academic year

Lusófona University – Porto University Centre welcomed International Students in Erasmus+ and Overseas Mobility on 18 September, in a session aimed at supporting students’ integration into the academic community and the city of Porto.

In the first semester of the 2026/27 academic year, Lusófona University – Porto University Centre is welcoming more than 90 students on Erasmus+ and Overseas mobility, making this one of the semesters with the highest number of international students hosted by the institution. The Welcome Session therefore marked the first in-person opportunity for many of these students to meet the different services and members of the academic community who will support them throughout their experience.

The intervention by Isabel Babo, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Cooperation at Lusófona University, opened the session, welcoming the students and highlighting the importance of the mobility programme for their academic and cultural experience at the university.

The session also featured a presentation by Sandra Rocha, Director of LIO - Lusófona International Office, who presented the main activities and services provided by the department; a presentation by the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP), which shared important safety recommendations and measures for students during their stay in Portugal; a presentation by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), where integration initiatives and activities aimed at international students were presented; and a welcome from the international coordinators of FCESE - Faculdade de Ciências Económicas, Sociais e da Empresa, Gina Santos and of FDEF - Faculdade de Desporto e Educação Física, José Pedro Guimarães.

In addition to the more practical information, the meeting also provided an opportunity to introduce some elements of Porto’s culture and identity. Tânia Abreu, from EVA - Estágios, Vida Ativa e Formação ao longo da Vida, introduced the students to some of the city’s highlights - from gastronomy to its social and cultural life -, helping them take their first steps in discovering the city of Porto, which will be their home over the coming months.

The Welcome Session concluded with a performance by Lusofonias, the Women’s Academic Tuna of ULusófona - Centro Universitário Porto, bringing music and entertainment to the gathering and providing an opportunity for students, lecturers and other members of the academic community to socialise. The session ended with pastéis de nata, providing a further opportunity for socialising and marking the beginning of a new chapter for international students at Lusófona University and in the city of Porto.

More than just a first introduction to ULusófona, the Welcome Session sought to mark the beginning of an academic, cultural and personal integration experience. According to the Director of LIO, this purpose has been reflected in feedback from international students, who ultimately discover, beyond their personal experience, “a university with many strengths” where they find the learning opportunities they were looking for when they chose Lusófona University.

Credits:

Text and Coverage
Susana A. Oliveira

Image Editing
Gabriel Motta

Video Editing
Luana Gomes