The birth of the School of Allied Health Technologies of Porto (ESTSP) is linked to the Decree-Law no. 175/2004 of July 21; however, its origins go much further than that. The training in Technologies for Diagnosis and Rehabilitation in Porto was initially offered in Training Centres, as referred in the Official State Gazette in the Ordinance no. 709/80 of September 23. Later, they were allocated to the Technic School of Health Services of Porto, where they were lectured until the publication, in the Official State Gazette, of the Decree-Law no. 371/82 of September 10.
The evolution and development of Health Technologies, whether nationally or within the European Union, determined that the training in these areas should be integrated in the national education system, namely in the Polytechnic Higher Education (as established in the Official State Gazette no. 709/80 of December 23). This led the school to adopt the designation of ‘School of Allied Health Technologies of Porto’.
In July 2004, the School of Allied Health Technologies of Porto was integrated in the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IPP), being formally recognized as an organizational unit of IPP on February 16, 2006.
In the academic year 2007/2008, IPP implemented in its courses the model of degrees and diplomas under the core principles of the Bologna Process (Decree-Law no. 74/2006 of March 24.) Since the academic year 2008/2009, all the 13 Bachelor degrees of ESTSP are taught following this new model; in the same year, ESTSP amplified its training offer and currently holds seven Master’s degrees, two of them in association with other institutions of Higher Education. From the beginning, these programmes proved to be very innovative and highly prestigious, contributing, together with the post-graduation and the continuing education courses, to an improvement in the institution’s reputation and to an investment in partnerships and cooperation with other entities. ESTSP currently offers a wide range of innovative and relevant training in numerous areas, topics and techniques.
Within the Health field, ESTSP is currently the largest institution of higher education in Portugal and the third largest institution of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto – the main Institute of Polytechnic Education in Portugal – with nearly 2,220 students. It distinguishes itself not only for the wide variety of courses that it offers, but also for its growing dynamics with quality.
ESTSP has and holds an extensive network of partnerships with a broad range of public and private institutions, resulting in more than 500 signed protocols establishing collaboration in education. This includes internships for ESTSP’s students, scientific research and multiple activities extended to the community, such as service provision and innovation.
ESTSP participates in training and mobility programmes within Europe, addressed to students and lecturers, with the aim of developing their sense of European identity and, at the same time, encouraging cultural exchanges and the internationalization of market expansion programmes. Most of these mobility projects is linked to the Erasmus mobility programme (currently known as Erasmus+), resulting in more than 50 bilateral contracts settled with several Higher Institutions across the European Community, allowing the mobility of students, lecturers and staff members between institutions. In addition to this, ESTSP also promotes exchange (addressed mainly to students) with non-European countries such as Brazil, among others. ESTSP is one of the schools of IPP with the largest amounts of students involved in mobility programmes, allowing them to have a remarkable experience of internationalization\.
As far as the policies of approaching community are concerned, ESTSP has a very unique dynamics, conducting different types of activities among the manifold surrounding communities. The students take part in all these activities, endowing them with vitality and creativity. These activities represent, at the same time, valuable teaching and learning opportunities in real environments. On technical and scientific levels, ESTSP organizes several activities in the context of education and research, such as seminars, workshops, intensive training courses, journeys, symposiums and congresses, with regular occurrence and with the participation of notable guest speakers. Through its Mobile Health Unit/ Pedagogical Clinic, ESTSP provides services to the surrounding population (in schools, retirement homes, Private Social Solidarity Institutions, urban spaces, etc.), such as screening programmes and awareness-raising events, with the aim of educating to health.
Mission and Values
Within the Health field, ESTSP is currently the largest institution of higher education in Portugal and the third largest institution of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto – the main Institute of Polytechnic Education in Portugal – with more than 2,000 students. It distinguishes itself not only for the wide variety of courses that it offers, but also for its growing dynamics with quality.
ESTSP acts according to a strategic plan which defines its mission:
“To contribute to society’s development, oriented to the creation, transmission and diffusion of culture and knowledge through education and learning, research and community service, in areas directly or indirectly related to Health, in a national and international context”. (O.S.G. no. 132, II Series, July 10, 2009)
The ground values of ESTSP are:
- Respect for individual and collective Freedom and acknowledgement of Equal Opportunities
- Manifest Solidarity and Social Responsibility
- Affirming itself as an institution constantly striving for Quality
- Sustainability and Excellence
- Providing conditions for graduate and post-graduate education, within the Health field and allied areas
As far as its team members are concerned, ESTSP seeks for social recognition by having an ensemble of highly prestigious lecturers and a group of devoted staff - qualified, motivated, compromised and with a strong sense of attachment to the institution.
It should be stressed that ESTSP is a certified institution of Higher Education. The implementation of the Quality Management System by ISO 9001:2008 was achieved in August 21, 2011, valid for three years.
The main areas of intervention and development of this process are undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate education, as well as community service provision in the areas of Science and Health Technologies.
Website: http://www.estsp.ipp.pt/