The Polytechnic Institute of Leiria has concluded its internal investigation into irregularities found in the awarding of Erasmus scholarships at its School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, resulting in the dismissal of an involved staff member. The institution announced that the case will now move to the relevant legal proceedings, specifically under the jurisdiction of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP).
In February, it was reported that the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria had launched an inquiry into alleged misconduct related to Erasmus scholarship allocations. At that time, President Carlos Rabadão disclosed that a routine financial audit had uncovered discrepancies in mobility scholarship awards over the previous summer.
“During a routine financial review, we identified an inconsistency that did not add up. We then appointed an internal investigation committee to address the issue,” explained Rabadão. He further mentioned that the issue had already been referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the involved employee was suspended from duties.
President Rabadão stated that the irregularity stemmed from an unconfirmed payment by a student, prompting a comprehensive audit of all mobility processes conducted over the past decade. Despite inquiries, specific financial details of the irregularities remain undisclosed as the internal committee’s work continues.
Inquiries made to the General Prosecutor’s Office about the case confirmed receipt of the complaint from the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, resulting in an ongoing investigation kept under legal confidentiality.
The Polytechnic Institute of Leiria comprises five higher education schools—three located in Leiria, one in Caldas da Rainha, and another in Peniche—alongside various training centers and research units. The academic community includes over 15,500 individuals, consisting of approximately 14,000 students and 1,650 faculty, researchers, technical, and administrative staff, spread across eight cities in the Leiria and Western regions.
