Presentation

Setúbal College of Education (ESE), at the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal has been integrated into the Portuguese higher education system since 1985. The first courses offered in 1987 were in the initial and continuing training of teachers (courses for early childhood teachers and teachers of the 1 st cycle of basic education). Over the years ESE has diversified by offering training in other areas predominantly oriented towards the 2 nd cycle of basic education. ESE also introduced bachelor and / licentiate degrees in other professional/ scientific areas and developed higher education courses in specialised education studies and Master's courses in partnership with other institutions.

There are currently six courses which are adapted to the 1st cycle of the Bologna model at ESE: Community Development and Sociocultural Intervention, Social Communication, Sports, Basic Education, Arts and Heritage Studies and Translating and Interpreting in Portuguese Sign Language. ESE also offers a Master of Education in Music Education (Basic Education) and a Master in Teaching Art and Technology Education at Basic Education level.

ESE invests in research and has participated in national programmes in Mathematics, Basic Skills in ICT, Experimental Science Education and Portuguese Teaching. It cooperates with African countries whose official language is Portuguese through the development of several long term projects in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. This College accepts mature students under the ‘Over 23' scheme and international students from the Erasmus Mobility Programme. There are a large number of protocols of cooperation with various organisations, institutions and enterprises and ESE also provides support for internships.

ESE’s approximately 800 students and more than 100 teachers engage in numerous events of scientific, educational and cultural nature. There’s also a Student’s Association and Tuna Sadina – a group of female student performers. All these people benefit from a Unit for inclusion in Working Life (UNIVA / IEFP), a Centre for Support of the Open University (UA) and a Centre for the Evaluation of the Portuguese Language (CAPLE). Students, teachers and other College workers also have access to the Social Action Services, including the IPS Sports Club.

Through the creation of an environment favourable to personal development and learning, this College seeks to promote education for citizenship. This includes the development of the capacity to intervene in school and society, education for media and the understanding of the modern world, so helping to create citizens who have the knowledge and competences necessary for the full exercise of the profession they choose.

ESE operates on the campus of IPS in the city of Setúbal (45 km south of Lisbon) in a building inaugurated in 1993, which was designed by the architect Siza Vieira. In that year it was awarded the Portuguese National Prize for Architecture.