08 August 2014 - As part of his official visit to the northern Portuguese city of Braga on July 3, Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe J. Lhuillier visited the University of Minho as part of the Embassy’s cultural diplomacy campaign to visit various Portuguese educational and research institutions for the purpose of establishing contacts, developing linkages and exploring possible cooperation activities between institutions from the Philippines and in Portugal.
The Ambassador was given a briefing and a tour of the University’s archives during his visit. University officials informed Ambassador Lhuillier of their interest to develop ties and links with Philippine universities and academic institutions.
They also briefed Ambassador Lhuillier on their e-learning program which focuses on specialized, short courses that can be credited in the European educational system. These e-learning programs can be modified to suit the needs of an institution or agency. The Ambassador noted that this e-learning program can be an area for cooperation with the Philippines.
Founded in 1973, the University of Minho is currently among the most prestigious institutions of higher education in Portugal. The courses and research projects of the University have gained strong international recognition and has resulted into many successful partnerships in research, cultural and socio- economic development projects.
As of 2013, the University of Minho appears on the ranking of Times Higher Education as one of the 100 best universities of the world under the age of 50, occupying the 76th position. In 2014, it placed 75th overall. The university is widely regarded for the number of citations of its published papers. END