“It is important that the person in charge of the University of the Algarve comes to the field to get to know the places and the people. There are many students from Vila do Bispo who are studying or have studied at UAlg and others who will still attend. Therefore, having a Rector who knows this territory, its people and its reality is, without a doubt, an asset”, said the Mayor of Vila do Bispo on the subject of the Rector's visit. of UAlg, on the 2nd of May.
António Branco was received, at 10:00 am, at the Vila do Bispo Town Hall's Hall by President Adelino Soares.
In this, which is already the eighth county visited by the dean, he watched the presentation of two projects developed by professionals trained at UAlg and was able to see, once again, that “the University is everywhere and that, therefore, the headquarters of UAlg is also is in Vila do Bispo”.
Marine biologist Rodrigo Clímaco spoke about his professional career and the various projects he has developed, as well as the work he has been doing with the Association of Shellfish Collectors of Vila do Bispo.
Beatriz Oliveira, who has a degree in Biology and Geology from UAlg, enthusiastically explained the great potential of the geology area in this county, which has representations of the earth's history dating back millions of years, such as Ponta do Telheiro, the beaches of Mareta or Castelejo and, also, Salema beach, where dinosaur footprints are clearly visible, as well as the less explored Praia Santa, also with a bench full of footprints. According to Beatriz Oliveira, “in this little corner by the sea, it is possible to find the entire history of the land represented”.
Amidst the sun and the sea, the delegation visited several parishes and locations in the municipality, such as Raposeira, Figueira, Budens and Burgau, always with the passionate explanations of Artur de Jesus, historian of the Vila do Bispo City Council, with the backdrop of the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.
In the afternoon, the rectory team visited the Sagres-Docapesca auction and some maritime-tourist companies.
The visit to the municipality of Vila do Bispo ended at the Fortaleza de Sagres, where the rectory team was received by Alexandra Gonçalves, regional director of Culture of the Algarve. After Artur de Jesus spoke about the historical aspect of this place, the film “Marisqueiros da Vila do Bispo – Filhos de um Mar Maior” was shown, which portrays the life of shellfish collectors in the collection of barnacles.
In this place, the dean felt involved by the strong presence of the “sacred”, which is evident in the film, and made a point of highlighting the phrase of one of these shellfish collectors, who in a heartfelt way says: “The sea owes me nothing, I is that I owe the sea”. For António Branco, this thought “is an extraordinary life lesson, which can be useful for many things, namely to think about the University's relationship with the Algarve”.
Asked whether these visits, considered unprecedented by many mayors, will continue in the future, António Branco says he is very surprised at the interest they are arousing from the councils. Following up on this initiative, in many other ways, is the wish of the rector, who also “would very much like to welcome the mayors, people and councils at the University of Algarve, showing them who the people who work there are, who they are problems we have, and how they can help us to solve them”.
In the municipality of Vila do Bispo, the rector also registered the concerns of maritime tourism companies about the impact that the unsustainable growth of their activity may have on marine life and brought with it “a very strong desire to find researchers at the University who can help carry out this study”.
As for Adelino Soares, “this initiative will strengthen the personal and institutional relationship and will be able to help these students in their research projects, many linked to Marine Biology and Geology”.
Visibly proud, he confessed: "hearing, as happened today, all the knowledge and all the learning that these former students acquired at UAlg and seeing how they put it at the service of the local community, makes me, as mayor, very satisfied" .
On this visit to discover the municipality of Vila do Bispo, the Rector reaffirmed that he makes these visits because he needs to be with the people. “As rector of a university called the “University of the Algarve” I needed, on the one hand, to make myself known and, on the other, to get closer to the various realities”.
António Branco chose as one of the strategic purposes of his mandate (2014-2017) to further strengthen the University's relationship with the region, so that close collaboration can be established and build a privileged space for reflection and joint action.
Focusing on the motto “UAlgarve is our Campus”, the rector has already visited the councils of Loulé, Lagoa, Castro Marim, São Brás de Alportel, Lagos, Alcoutim, Albufeira, Vila do Bispo and, next Friday, day 9, will visit the municipality of Aljezur.
Veja here more pictures of the dean's visit Vila do Bispo.
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