University residences should be viewed as spaces for the integration of higher education students, according to the minister of Education. “If we do this, we will take a significant step forward in terms of social mobility,” he remarked, emphasizing that the socioeconomic background of the students should not be a stigmatizing factor.
In Portugal, he noted, there is still a lingering notion that these residences are meant to accommodate underprivileged students. “This is a view reminiscent of the 19th century, which unfortunately persists in Portugal,” he criticized, advocating for these spaces to promote integration and academic success.
The new student residence by the Federação Académica do Porto (FAP), housed in a floor of the Instituto Profissional do Terço—an institution dedicated to social solidarity—will open its doors on Thursday in Praça do Marquês to 24 scholarship students. Funded with 150,000 euros from the Queima das Fitas event, the facility aims to address the pressing issue of student housing shortages.
Configured with separate wings for female and male students, the residence targets what is perceived as the most significant challenge for university students: the accommodation crisis.
This marks FAP’s second student housing initiative, following the first in 2023 near São Bento Station in central Porto.
During the opening ceremony, which the University of Porto’s rector did not attend, the education minister expressed hope that FAP and similar institutions will continue to pursue such initiatives. He clarified that these efforts are not meant to replace the state’s central role but to complement it, as these experiences often bring innovation.
“I have always been a proponent of the social and supportive sector in all areas of public education because this diversity fosters innovation,” he stated.
He urged that “all Portuguese institutions need to consider and replicate such initiatives to ensure equal opportunities for access to higher education, paving the way for a true democracy.”
Fernando Alexandre highlighted that this involves not just financial investment but also efforts in integration and development, elucidating that studying closer to home greatly influences academic success, an assertion supported by educational success indicators.
Pointing out the additional challenges faced by students who move away,” he emphasized the need for institutions to provide welcoming and integrative structures.”
The education minister acknowledged the lack of awareness regarding the integration of relocated students. “There is awareness about financially challenged relocated students, but the broader and essential integration issue remains,” he stressed.
In light of the current insufficient response to accommodation capacity needs, priority is given to financially disadvantaged students. However, facilities like these are deemed crucial for first-year students’ integration, regardless of economic status.
According to the Student Housing Observatory, the average cost of rooms in Porto stands at 400 euros.
The 24 new beds in this second residence are designated for students referred by Social Action Services. Students receive housing supplements, making higher education free if they reside in Academia 24 do Marquês.
The National Student Housing Plan encompasses the renovation of some residences, although some remain closed. Official data reveals that the practical supply has decreased since 2018, with the plan’s implementation at just 13%, slightly over a year from the Recovery and Resilience Plan’s deadlines.
