Portugal's polytechnic universities rename and expand campuses

Portuguese higher education university rename polytechnic campus expansion Law 32/2026

On 27 July, Portugal’s Minister of Education, Science and Innovation inaugurated Building 2 of the University of Coimbra’s campus in Figueira da Foz. The new facility, housed in the former bus terminal, includes state‑of‑the‑art laboratories for maritime biology and naval engineering and is the first step in a planned expansion that will add further constructions before the end of the summer and introduce new degree programmes such as a bachelor's in Naval Engineering and three new master's.

The Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra will change its name to Universidade Politécnica de Coimbra in August, following the entry into force of Law No 32/2026. The transition will also see the addition of 500 new student‑housing beds, bringing total capacity to 860.

Similarly, the Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre will become Universidade Politécnica de Portalegre on 1 August under the same legal framework. The institution says its practical, dual‑focused teaching model will remain unchanged, and it has recently joined the EU4Dual consortium of European dual‑study universities.

Entities: Fernando Alexandre · Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra · Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre · Law No 32/2026 · University of Coimbra

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Universidade Politécnica de Portalegre has joined the EU4Dual consortium of European dual‑study universities. (article)
[● 2 SOURCES] The Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre will become Universidade Politécnica de Portalegre on 1 August under Law No 32/2026. (article)
[● 2 SOURCES] The rename will not change the practical, dual‑focused teaching model at the former Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre. (article)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Portugal’s Minister of Education, Science and Innovation inaugurated Building 2 of the University of Coimbra campus in Figueira da Foz on 27 July. (article)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra will be renamed Universidade Politécnica de Coimbra in August under Law No 32/2026. (article)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The University of Coimbra plans to expand the Figueira da Foz campus with new constructions by the end of summer and to add new degree programmes, including a bachelor's in Naval Engineering and three (article)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The rename to Universidade Politécnica de Coimbra includes adding 500 new student‑housing beds, raising total capacity to 860. (article)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Building 2 includes state‑of‑the‑art laboratories for maritime biology and naval engineering. (article)