“We, the affected candidates, made decisions in good faith based on trust in the process: we moved cities, left long-term jobs, abandoned master’s programs, invested in real estate, and reorganized our personal lives, believing in the positions that were given to us,” reads a clarification note from the candidates sent today to Lusa.
The rector of U.Porto, António de Sousa Pereira, revealed that he had been pressured by several people to allow 30 candidates who did not achieve the minimum required score of 14 in the special course access exam into the Faculty of Medicine, reported today by the weekly Expresso.
The Porto Academic Federation (FAP) demanded an “internal inquiry” today to investigate why the director of the Faculty of Medicine of U. Porto informed 30 candidates of their admission to Medicine without the authorization of the rector of the University of Porto.
In statements to Lusa, the FAP announced that it will hold an urgent meeting tonight with all student associations of the University of Porto to react to the “worsening” relationship between U.Porto and the Ministry of Education.
“Given the seriousness of the situation that has come to light involving the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, the University of Porto Rectorate, and the Ministry of Education, the Porto Academic Federation has called for an urgent meeting with the Student Associations of the University of Porto tonight to analyze and respond to the incident and the consequent worsening of relations between the University of Porto and the Ministry of Education.
FAP President Francisco Fernandes added that the position of all involved students will be known on Saturday morning and that he will not provide any information regarding resignation requests.
In the note from the candidates to the special access competition for the Integrated Master’s in Medicine, there are cases of “profound academic, professional, and emotional impact.”
One candidate from Vila Real, 37, after working as a pharmacist for 10 years, sold her house and left her job to move to Porto.
“Today she is without a house and not enrolled in the Medicine course. Her employer offered to take her back, but she lost the career path and position she had built over 10 years. Additionally, the situation with the house remains unresolved, with her husband also involved in the move,” the document sent to Lusa states.
Another candidate, 24, a master in Veterinary Medicine, was also placed at the Faculty of Medicine of U. Lisbon but decided not to enroll in that Lisbon institution, choosing U. Porto instead, believing that the process at the Faculty of Medicine of U.Porto “was valid and legal.”
A 24-year-old candidate, a senior diagnostic and therapeutic technician, enrolled in a Master’s in Biochemistry in Health, had a thesis topic, advisor, and projects initiated, but dropped out of the master’s program.
“The emotional and psychological impact was profound, due to the interruption of a solid academic path,” she said.
Another 24-year-old candidate, a senior diagnostic and therapeutic technician, progressed to the interview phase of a special competition at another university but was excluded for being placed on the provisional list of FMUP.
“She had already left her job, started renting in Porto, and today she pays for a house unsure if it will be utilized, with her roommate also in an uncertain situation.”
Another candidate, 25, a master in Pharmaceutical Sciences, who was placed at the University of Beira Interior in Covilhã, also decided not to enroll, believing her spot at FMUP was secured.
Another candidate, 27, a veterinarian, worked part-time all year to combine study for national exams and special access tests, gave up on alternative applications where she was accepted, and lost the opportunity to improve grades in national exams.
In an interview with Lusa, the FAP president expressed being “ashamed” by the frustration caused to 30 candidates for the U.Porto Medicine degree, regarded as the best in Portugal, and called for an “internal inquiry” to determine the responsibilities of informing students of their entry into the Medicine course without “legal backing.”
