Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra Departament of Civil Engineering DEC International Student Guide Welcome message The Department of Civil Engineering (DEC) was created in 1972 and, since then, it has been gradually growing as one of the best teaching institutions in the field of Civil Engineering in Portugal, as well as, more recently, in the field of Environmental Engineering. We are proud to say that, up to now, our department has awarded Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Civil Engineering to over 3,000 students. Presently having 77 lecturers, including 59 with doctoral degrees and 15 with habilitation qualification, 19 administrative and technical staff members and approximately 1,550 students, the Department of Civil Engineering is, in many ways, the largest department of the University of Coimbra. Following the implementation of the Bologna Process, the main courses offered by DEC are the Integrated Master’s in Civil Engineering (MIEC) and the Integrated Master’s in Environmental Engineering (MIEA). These two courses, which together include about 1,200 students, are the result of a restructuring of the former undergraduate courses in the same fields. In parallel, we have Message Welcome developed specific “advanced specialisation” and "lifelong learning" Master’s courses, such as the Masters in Steel and Composite Construction, Civil Engineering Structures and Urban Fire Safety. More recently, six post-Bologna doctoral programmes have also been adopted, which include as curriculum areas Steel and Composite Construction, Transportation Systems, Transportation Engineering, Fire Safety Engineering, Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. In the last few years, DEC has received students from different countries (Brazil, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Greece, among others) who are interested in studying engineering at a renowned international university. All members of DEC’s academic community are open- minded and welcoming of international students, regarding them as an opportunity to obtain insights into different cultures and to share knowledge and experiences. Students who attend the Department of Civil Engineering benefit from a school with high scientific productivity and team spirit that foster pride in belonging to DEC - FCTUC, extracurricular activities that motivate students, excellent facilities for work and socialising, support networks for disabled students, among many other advantages. Moreover, the emblematic academic activities and events of the University of Coimbra make studying at DEC - FCTUC a very enriching and unique experience which you won’t regret having had! Enjoy your studies at DEC! João Pedroso de Lima Director of DEC – 2009-2011 Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) . How to get to Campus II of the University of Coimbra The Campus II of the University of Coimbra (Pólo II) - where the Department of Civil Engineering is located - is on the right bank of Mondego river, as shown in the map below. Location Map GPS coordinates: DEC Location DEC N 40 11’ 07.25’’ W 8 24’ 55.00’’ . Public Transports - SMTUC www.smtuc.pt Coimbra has a network of Urban Transports (SMTUC) which provides three bus lines to Campus II: • Line 34: Universidade – Pólo II da Universidade - regular service during the day (between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.). •Line 38: Planalto S. Clara (Fórum) – Pólo II da Universidade - regular service during the day (between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.). •Line 24T : Palácio da Justiça – Quinta da Nora - reduced service (at the end of the day, weekends and public holidays). Tickets can be purchased at SMTUC shops throughout the city, or at the cafeteria of DEC. You can also purchase a monthly pass at SMTUC shops only. How to get to the Department of Civil Engineering (DEC) The University Campus II (Pólo II) houses services and departments of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCTUC), namely a main building for administration services and the departments of Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Informatics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. University Student Residence 1 SASUC Canteen Administration FCTUC Campus II Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of Informatics Engineering Department of Chemical Location DEC Engineering Casa da Pedra Cultural Centre Department of Civil Engineering (DEC) Department of Mechanical Engineering Student Residence 2 Institute for Interdisciplinary Research of the University of Coimbra There are other buildings at Campus II which can be seen on the map above: two student residences, the University Social Services (SASUC) canteen, the Cultural Centre Casa da Pedra and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research of the University of Coimbra. What to do when you arrive . International Relations Unit (DRI) As an international student, the first thing to do upon arrival at the University of Coimbra is to register with the International Relations Unit (DRI) of the University. At DRI you will be informed about everything you need to do in order to study at the University of Coimbra, such as registration procedures, UC student number and e-mail activation, besides other information about living in Portugal. The DRI is located at Campus I of the University of Coimbra: Address International Relations Unit - University of Coimbra Colégio de S. Jerónimo On Duty Largo D. Dinis Monday to Friday: arrival On Apartado 3026 9.00 a.m. -12.30 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. 3001-401 COIMBRA Opening hours Telephone: +351 239 857 000 (for Incoming and Outgoing students only) Fax no.: +351 239 857 002 Monday to Thursday: 1.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. E-mail: [email protected] Friday: closed to public. URL: http://www.uc.pt/driic . At DEC After following the instructions from DRI, you should go to the Department of Civil Engineering (DEC) and make an appointment with the International Programmes Coordinator, who will help you with your plan of studies. Once you are appropriately registered for course units, you can start attending classes and meeting classmates, lecturers and staff at DEC. For activities on the first days, see the last page of this guide. DEC Organisational Structure The organisational structure of the Department of Civil Engineering consists of the following bodies: Director (elected every two years) • Chair the Scientific Committee, responsible for implementing its resolutions; • Develops a report on previous year activities and the plan of activities and budget for the following year; • Manages the department and prepares appropriate regulations. Sub-directors Structure Organisational DEC Coordinators (number can vary, every two years): Scientific Committee (composed of 15 elected members of the (appointed by the Director of the Department) • Coordinate and manage DEC courses; teaching staff): - coordinate the following areas: • Coordinate timetables and academic • Elects the Director of DEC; • Research and Development; examinations; • Defines general scientific and pedagogical activities; • International Programmes; • Coordinate lecturers in cooperation with • Prepares the proposed distribution of teaching service the coordinators of the scientific areas; • Scientific Areas; of courses under DEC responsibility; • Manage the budget; • Laboratories; • Submits proposals for the creation of new study cycles • Manage human resources and distribution and plans for existing ones; • Library and Computer Centre; of teaching service; • Analyses the plan and budget, and the report and • Coordinate the maintenance of buildings, accounts of DEC; the library and the computer centre; • Establishes academic awards. • Promote the department and its activities at national and international level. Course Coordinators (appointed by the Faculty of Science and Technology) have the task of ensuring the quality of the course under their coordination, with regard to: • Monitor course functioning in collaboration with the Directors of other FCTUC Departments involved in the teaching; • Establish, with lecturers, the operating rules of courses, dates of assessment and workload required from students; • Verify compliance with applicable regulations. Note: Students of each course annually elect a student representative who is the main interlocutor by Course Coordinators in matters relevant to students. Scientific Areas - research at DEC is divided into the following areas: . Structures External consulting services are also Research in this area includes experimental, numerical and provided, namely technical advice and computational components. The main areas of research are: expertise using experimental means. • Sensitivity analysis and optimisation of structures; Standard laboratory tests • Behaviour of reinforced concrete structures, timber-concrete composite structures and structures of timber and wood-based are also performed to support industry. Composed of 11 lecturers products; • Structure Organisational DEC responsible for teaching MIEC, MIEA, Instability phenomena and non-linear behaviour of structures; • Building behaviour and resistance to fire. Continuity Master’s in Civil Engineering and PhD Programme courses . Geotechnics External services are also provided, Research in this area is developed both in the namely: Composed of nine lecturers responsible for numerical and experimental components, in • Laboratory tests; teaching MIEC, MIEA, and PhD Programme • the analysis of static and dynamic stability of Consultancy of projects with a courses. geotechnical component. geotechnical