Universidade de Aveiro

Mission Statement

The end of 20th century brought profound social changes, especially in the habits of consumption of goods and services. In this context, design distinguishes as a strategic tool, skilled for innovation in environments of strong competition. A contribution that is revealed in the ability of qualification, both at the level of performance and the Aesthetic and symbolic of the artefacts. The contribution of Design in contemporary demands required rethinking the role of designer in society, and therefore their training. It’s the accomplishment of this challenge and the observation of the requirements raised by Bologna process, that organizes the teaching of design at the University of Aveiro, arranged in three levels (1st, 2nd and 3rd cycles, corresponding to Bachelor, Master and PhD).

The Sciences and Communication Technologies (CTC) area includes diferente degrees (1st, 2nd and 3rd cycles) dedicated to learning about the analysis, conceptualization and development of content, services and communication technologies for new digital media: Degree in New Communication Technologies, Master in Communication and Web Technologies, Master in Audio-visual Communication for New Media, Master in Digital Game Development, Doctoral Programme in Multimedia in Education, Doctoral Programme in New Media.

International Role

We maintain for some years the Erasmus bilateral agreements with several european design schools. We also have close relations with Brasilien universities.

We are on the Top 50 best Design Schools in Europe (Domus Magazine)

The research unit ID+ aggregate Universidade de Aveiro, Universidade do Porto and IPCA.

National Role

UA is a highly regarded institution of research led education, constituted by university departments, research units, polytechnic schools, interface units, and a vocational education network. Its integrated structure permits the articulation and harmonisation of the teaching and research environments, and enables the construction of individual educational paths, from post-secondary technological specialisation programmes to doctoral degrees. Teaching activities are developed in a research-based environment, and throughout the academic year, dozens of national and international conferences are organised, generating a dynamic and multicultural atmosphere for students and staff. 

Since 1998, UA integrates the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) [http://eciu.web.ua.pt], a leading international cluster of research intensive universities, with a collective emphasis on innovation, creativity, and societal impact driving the development of a knowledge-based economy. Each member institution shares a number of distinctive characteristics with a strong commitment to innovation and applied research, with close links to industry partners. 

ID+ is rooted on the mission to establish effective working ties between Design Research and Institutional Partners towards cultural, economic and social development. The organization of this Institute is based, first and foremost, on a network that links Design, Industry, Culture and Media, based on principles of flexibility, autonomy, efficiency and acknowledgement. In addition, this network will invest on national and international academic partners from diverse scientific areas as a clear strategy for broadening its social, cultural and economic impact.

Main Focus

The Department  of Communication and Art (DeCA) has a diverse range of competencies relating to the areas of Communication, Design, Art Studies and Music, with cross-curricular and external links, in order to provide an attractive and innovative range of courses at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.   

DeCA currently offers three degree programmes (Design, Music and NTC), eight Masters programmes (Music, Music Education, Design, Product Design and Engineering, Contemporary Artistic Creation,  and Communication and Web Technologies, Audio-visual Communication for New Media and Digital Game Development) and four doctorate programmes (Music, Design, ICDP and Multimedia in Education). Many of the doctoral programmes are developed in partnership with other higher level institutions.