The mayor of Coimbra, Ana Abrunhosa, announced at the Municipal Assembly that the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, a private institution owned by the Intermunicipal Community of the Coimbra Region, will probably be integrated into the University of Coimbra. The mayor explained that integration and the change of premises were conditions imposed by the Ministry of Education, with the rector of UC expressing willingness to welcome ISMT in a model yet to be defined. The installation in the two transferred municipal buildings, located on Rua Ferreira Borges, will in the future allow the creation of a University of Coimbra pole in the city center.
The proposal to transfer the buildings was approved by majority with 41 favorable votes from PS, PSD, CDS-PP, Chega, Livre, PAN and Left Bloc, four abstentions from Nós, Cidadãos! and Iniciativa Liberal, and three votes against from CDU and PPM. Despite a legal opinion associated with the process advocating for a prior valuation of the properties, Ana Abrunhosa highlighted that the document is not binding and defended that the transfer without rent payment does not financially harm the municipality.
Several parties expressed reservations or criticism about the decision. Rui Rodrigues, from Nós, Cidadãos!, considered that the process did not sufficiently ensure the legal and financial security of the operation. Graça Simões, from the movement Cidadãos por Coimbra and elected by Livre, expressed reservations about the costs and associated public investment. Fernando Teixeira, from CDU, criticized the free transfer of municipal properties to a private institution and warned of possible effects on real estate pressure in the city center.
ISMT faces a difficult financial situation, with a drop of more than 30% in new enrollments for the 2025/2026 academic year and a negative net result of 70 thousand euros in 2025. The Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education previously decided not to accredit the institute and ordered its closure, a decision that is being contested in court by the institution.
