Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues, Rector of Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon, affirmed her gratitude for the commitment of the government, along with various city councils, public companies and universities, to a project that will construct five new university residences in the train stations of Santa Apolónia, Pragal, Carcavelos, Monte Abraão and Portela de Sintra. “During the last two years, I was a witness of the efforts made to find solutions to this issue. But unfortunately, the obstacles we faced were greater than our will,” stated Rodrigues.

Iscte’s Rector stressed that “the lack of residences is a public problem that particularly affects students in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and their families, burdening them with not only economic costs, but also the cost to autonomy that financial dependence constitutes”. Rodrigues also added that the universities are conscious of the gravity of the situation, since this lack of residences “bars them from accomplishing their mission of democratization, internationalization, and making higher education accessible” by failing to provide “conditions to receive interested international students with dignity.”

Giving up is not an option

Rodrigues underlined the importance of this protocol, signed by Iscte, Nova University, the Infrastructures of Portugal and IP Património – with strong support from the government – as a practical demonstration of perseverance and resilience in the face of difficulties. “The best way to solve a problem is not to give upon it, but to persist in search of solutions. And the best solutions are found through cooperating, joining forces and mobilizing all available resources, particularly those of public nature,” she added.

The Rector made further point of emphasizing that this project, which will create 1220 more housing spots for university students, is important for its ability to “bring together transportation and environment policy. It will contribute definitively to the viability of public transport while remaining amenable to environmental and urban policy.”

Government praises protocol 

Present at the ceremony that occurred at the Santa Apolónia Station in Lisbon were the ministers of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, and Science, Technology, and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor.

Santos highlighted that there is “a large problem of access to housing and, in particular for our students, entry to accessible residences,” adding that it is imperative to ensure that financial situation is not an obstacle for students entering into higher education.

Heitor also underlined the importance of encourage the democratization of access to higher education, noting that one of the fundamental conditions for this process is a guarantee of housing conditions. “Housing at reasonable prices is a measure of highest necessity,” he concluded.