The University of Évora will submit a new proposal for the creation of the Integrated Master's in Medicine to the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES) by March 2027. Rector António Candeias revealed that the institution is restructuring the course and creating partnerships to ensure the sustainability of the program. A working group and a strategic monitoring group are also being established to reformulate the project.
This is the third attempt by the Alentejo academy to create the Medicine course, as two previous proposals were rejected by A3ES. The decision on the second "rejection" was published on April 13 of this year, following a deliberation on February 25 that rejected accreditation of the study cycle.
A3ES based the rejection on the unfavorable opinion of the Order of Doctors and identified four main problems: the sustainability of the program was uncertain in the short and long term in terms of infrastructure, human resources, and finances; the faculty was insufficient and unevenly qualified; essential infrastructure was lacking, namely a fully functional central university hospital; and the proposed clinical simulation facilities were inadequate.
The rector expressed hope that the new application, more consistent and aligned with the challenges of teaching and the region, would be valued by the agency and the evaluators. "I am convinced that we will be successful," stated António Candeias.
