The University of Algarve (UAlg) and the Chamber of Faro they will strive to deepen institutional relations, through the launch of several joint projects, as well as periodic meetings and more regular and intensive monitoring.
This was the main decision of a meeting between the president of the Faro local authority Rogério Bacalhau and the rector António Branco, held last week, «a bilateral contact between the two institutions, which served as the basis for the constitution of a forum for joint reflection» .
On the table were several themes, such as the creation of a Technological Park in Faro, the possibility of a partnership in the dynamization of Fábrica da Cerveja and measures in the area of youth housing.
Both António Branco and Rogério Bacalhau were elected to the position they now occupy in the last quarter of 2013, but they wasted no time in trying to fulfill a need pointed out long ago by both those responsible for the academy and the Farense community.
«Among the various points of interest, the Algarve International Technology Park (PTIA), a partnership between the Airport of Faro, UAlg and the Faro local authority, which will be built next to the University and the [international] airport and also close to the Ria Formosa. It is, therefore, a major project of strategic importance for both institutions, as it envisages the creation of incubators, offices and applied research laboratories, where companies can invest and establish themselves, always in partnership with the University» , announced the two institutions, in a joint press release.
Regarding the Fábrica da Cerveja, the possibility of installing «creative industries, training spaces for UAlg's training offer in the field of Arts, or even the creation of an artistic residence / hostel» in that space located in Vila-Adentro in Faro. It will be for this old factory which will soon be moving the Associação Recreativa e Cultural de Músicos.
In the field of youth housing, the idea is to create «special conditions to provide housing in Baixa de Faro, aiming not only at urban rehabilitation, but also at the experience of a younger population, making the area more attractive».
«And because the University must also have an active social role, a “Bolsa de Voluntários” will be implemented that creates conditions for, in exchange for company and a symbolic income, will allow students who attend UAlg to stay in the homes of families from the city's elderly, in an initiative that essentially aims to combat the loneliness of the elderly, but which will also be able to support students with difficulties», announced the two institutions.
This will be a way to Faro if it assumes “increasingly, as a university city”, the same principle behind the intention of “decorating the city with a set of initiatives to welcome the thousands of students who every year increase the population of Faro”.
At the same time, it will provide “more information and create easy access to sports, cultural and recreational facilities for the entire academic community”.
«Given the huge demand for municipal and university sports facilities, a more sustained and shared management of existing spaces was agreed, noting however that the existing partnership with the Academic Association of UAlg has allowed many students to practice sports, thus enriching a component sports in the city», they reveal.
"It was a very good day for the two institutions, who recognize that they have a shared mission to find solutions to the problems that concern everyone - the council and the academic community that is part of it, as well as the institution itself", he said in the end of the meeting, Rogério Bacalhau.
The rector António Branco states that he has "in common with Dr. Rogério Bacalhau a vocation for achievement – which allows the dialogue between both institutions to be guided by the combination of two important dimensions: that of thought and that of action."
The next meeting between the two institutions has already been scheduled, for two months from now, to monitor the evolution of the measures mentioned last week. "Teams were also defined, with elements from the two institutions, who will be responsible for monitoring and implementing the proposed measures", they announced.
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