Carneiro: Minister cannot accept rector's resignation

The leader of the Socialist Party warned the Minister of Education this Sunday that it is “not right” to say that he would accept the resignation of the rector of the University of Porto, because rectors enjoy statutory and university autonomy.

"There's something I wanted to remind the Minister of Education that he should know, because he's also an academic. The rector doesn't resign from a minister of education. The rector is elected by his peers, reports to the General Council, and enjoys statutory and university autonomy. For a minister of education, an academic, and even from a prestigious university in the North region, to come and say he would accept the rector's appointment, doesn't align with rigor and discipline," said José Luís Carneiro.

The rector of the University of Porto (U.Porto), António de Sousa Pereira, stated that he had received pressure from several people to allow 30 candidates into the Faculty of Medicine who had not obtained the minimum grade of 14 in the test required for the special access course.

On the sidelines of a visit to the Porto Book Fair and when asked by journalists whether the rector of the University of Porto should make his position available, after being called a liar by the Minister of Education [Fernando Alexandre], José Luís Carneiro declared that this would be “complete nonsense”.

"This is complete nonsense, as is evident. On the other hand, as I just stated, institutions enjoy statutory autonomy, financial autonomy, administrative autonomy, have their own election model, and are accountable to the General Council. The Minister of Education should be aware of this degree of autonomy of higher education institutions."

The Socialist Party has requested a hearing of both the rector and the Minister of Education in the Assembly of the Republic and, according to the PR leader, this scrutiny will be carried out at the Assembly of the Republic.

José Luís Carneiro declared, however, that the rector of the U.Porto is a “rector of great prestige at the U.Porto and of great academic prestige” and recalled that the rector António de Sousa Pereira was “one of the founders of the most important teaching and research institutions in the area of ​​Health and Medicine” who “deserves all respect”.

When asked by journalists what future he envisions for the 30 students who were informed that they had been accepted into Medicine at the University of Porto and whose places were ultimately withdrawn due to a lack of approval from the University of Porto's rector, Luís Carneiro believes that "all regulations and standards must be strictly adhered to."

“I think that was what the rector tried to ensure.”

Carneiro added, however, that all issues will certainly be clarified in this hearing that will take place in the Assembly of the Republic.

The Porto Academic Federation (FAP) and the Student Associations of the University of Porto called this Saturday for the urgent convening of an Academic Senate so that the responsible leaders can explain the case of the 30 candidates for the Medicine course.

“The Academic Federation of Porto and the Student Associations of the University of Porto call for dialogue between the director of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) and the rector of the University of Porto, also considering it essential to urgently convene an Academic Senate, with the presence of both,” reads a press release sent to Lusa.

The FAP also demanded an “internal investigation” to determine why the director of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto informed 30 candidates about their entry into Medicine without authorization from the rector of the U.Porto.

Candidates for the special entrance exam for the Integrated Master's in Medicine at the University of Porto (U.Porto) admit to having been wronged by U. Porto, stating that they moved cities, left long-term jobs, invested in real estate and withdrew from master's degrees.

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