Jorge Simoes

Instituto Politécnico de Tomar

The Polytechnic of Tomar is a young institution. Its history dates back to the beginning of 1973, when it was created by ministerial decree but it was only in 1982 that installation of the School of Technology was possible. In 1986, the first bachelor degrees were created and classes held in an old building in the downtown using laboratories located in several spots of the city. Finally, in 1992 it changed to a new campus with over 10 hectares. On 1 January 1997, it has obtained the permanent statute of independent establishment housing three schools: the School of Technology in Tomar, the School of Management in Tomar and the School of Technology in Abrantes. With about 4000 students today and 21 higher degrees, the IPT offers a wide range of choices including a great variety of subject domains from Human Sciences and Communication to Engineering and Information Technologies seeking to constantly adjust the contents of its study programmes to entrepreneurial needs. Therefore, all degrees are already adapted to the Bologna requirements as from the 2007/2008 school year. As a consequence of the adaptation of degree programmes to the Bologna model, presently the Polytechnic of Tomar only offers first-cycle degrees (Licenciatura). Some departments may also offer second-cycle programmes in a near future. Apart from professional training courses, retraining programmes for teachers and staff lifelong learning actions, the Polytechnic also offers study programmes in partnership with other universities such as the Master's Degree in Prehistoric Archaeology and Rock Art under the framework of ERASMUS-MUNDUS program, a partnership between the IPT and the Trás-Os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) university.