By 2024, students at the University of Algarve will have at their disposal another 287 beds in university residences, announced Paulo Águas, dean of the Higher Education Institution, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the student tribute monument, on Friday, October 21st.
On the same occasion, the head of the UAlg also pointed out the need for «more mobility», namely with free public transport for students.
With regard to residences, “the financing agreement under the PRR was signed a few weeks ago. We are launching the first tenders for the projects and we admit that by the end of 2023 the work will be awarded and will end in 2024", said Paulo Águas to the Sul Informação.
Asked about the help that the City Council of Faro may give in future aspects, Paulo Águas stressed that the University «cannot wait for the Municipality in relation to the housing matter, because the Chamber does not have these obligations».
«That is up to the State, but in terms of accessibility and transport, we expect help», he continued.
One of UAlg's bets, stressed the dean, is to «contribute to decarbonization» and that «goes through more public transport».
“I have already challenged the president and I think that will happen sooner or later. It would be nice to have free transport for students, similar to what happens in other cities in the country. Faro It is an avant-garde city and I believe that when it is considered appropriate by its decision-makers, it will also take that step, which will be a positive point both for students and for the city».
Mayor Rogério Bacalhau admitted that "the transport issue is, in fact, a problem that is often not easy to solve due to the constraints that all this implies", but stressed that the municipality "is working on it" and that in that some steps have already been taken in recent years.
«I take into account the increase in the number of students, these steps are becoming insufficient, but we are trying to overcome this with more careers and schedules», revealed the mayor to the Sul Informação.
Regarding free transport, Rogério Bacalhau recalls that this is already a reality for students up to the 12th year and that, in the case of the university, the municipality “has no such responsibility”-
However, the hypothesis is not completely ruled out by the president of the Farense Chamber.
Fábio Zacarias, president of the Academic Association of UAlg, welcomed «the new mobility offer of VAMUS that connects both the city of Olhão and Loulé» to Faro, but stressed that «it is still not enough, and it is necessary to intervene and get students from other cities in the Algarve to stay in their first residence and study here».
Ao Sul Informação, the young man also stressed that the 287 beds planned by 2024 “will help, but they will not be enough”.
“It is necessary to invest in more housing in the city at controlled prices. This is what students need so that we can, consequently, settle more young people in the region and have an effective development of the Algarve in the coming years», concluded Fábio Zacarias.
All the statements were made on the sidelines of the inauguration of the monument to honor the students, a moment about which we tell you everything here
Photos: Mariana Sedge | Sul Informação
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