| University of the Algarve | |
|---|---|
| Universidade do Algarve | |
| Established | 1970s |
| Type | Public University |
| Students | 9,095 (2008)[1] |
| Location | Faro, Portugal |
| Website | 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 9,000 students.
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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 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 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 Algarve is particularly well-known for its marine biology, marine sciences and biochemistry licenciatura degrees (in Portuguese: "cursos de licenciatura"), offered by its Sciences & Technology Faculty. UAlg awards licenciatura degrees (bachelor's degree); mestrado degrees (masters' degree); and doutoramento degrees (doctorate degree - only awarded by the university faculties) in several fields, ranging from economics to environmental engineering.
University higher education is provided by three faculties:
Polytechnic higher education is provided by four schools:
The University has a students' union called the University of 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.