DB/Photo by Pedro Ramos
What is your assessment of this first year of your second term as head of FFUC?
In the first term, in particular, in the last year, we achieved the best results ever. There are two or three facts that prove what I say. On the one hand, we helped raise the ranking of the University of Coimbra (UC). The rankings are worth what they are worth, but we have a very large contribution to UC being one of the best 500 universities in the world. In the pharmaceutical sciences ranking, we are among the 100 best colleges in the world in this area of study. This is essentially due to students, teachers and researchers.
How have you looked at research at your college?
Investigators have placed the investigation at a very high level. In the latest ranking that came out, in 2022, 12 of the college’s 59 professors are on the list of the 2% most cited scientists worldwide. This means we publish a lot and we publish well. At our faculty, the average publication of articles per professor, in 2023, was 4.5 articles per researcher and the national average is 1.9. But more than the number of publications, quality also matters. We are cited from the United States, Australia or China.
Is there room for the college to further evolve?
There will be room until we are the number one college in the world, but we have to be realistic. The ambition exists and we always have to try to improve, but it’s not easy because for that we need people. There is contact with the rectory to increase the number of workers. Fortunately, we also have many people wanting to work with us. Last year, for each researcher vacancy we always had four applications.
Is it necessary to give your researchers more time?
There are projects that require dedication and time. For example, the implementation of GeneT will mean that the colleague who coordinates it, next year, will be relieved of his teaching duties. But someone will have to replace him…
Read the full interview in today’s edition of DIÁRIO AS BEIRAS
Tags: years full professors
