The Instituto Superior Miguel Torga held on Monday the Solemn Session for the Opening of Classes, called "First Day", in its new building on Rua Ferreira Borges, in Coimbra's Baixa district, thus officially beginning the 2026/2027 academic year. The event was attended by the president of CIM Região de Coimbra, Helena Teodósio, the mayor of Coimbra, Ana Abrunhosa, the president of ISMT, Manuel Castelo Branco, and the president of the Students' Association, Gonçalo Batista.
Manuel Castelo Branco stressed that the move represents a new birth and the beginning of a new destiny for the institution, stating that the school responded enthusiastically to the challenge of contributing to revitalisation and the return of the "city-community" concept in Coimbra. The president of ISMT also highlighted the symbolic value of the location, situated just metres away from historic spaces linked to the memory and civic and humanist presence of Miguel Torga, as well as the unanimous support and cooperation of the 19 municipalities that make up the region.
Ana Abrunhosa emphasised the speed of the joint decision-making between the Metropolitan Region of Coimbra and the municipality to avoid the risk of the Institute closing due to the inadequacy of its previous premises. The mayor explained that the chosen building met good conditions and required few adaptations, allowing a swift transfer of teaching activities and the administrative team, stressing that the recovery of the Baixa is only effective through its occupation by people and that nearly a thousand young people are already revitalising the streets and terraces of the area.
Helena Teodósio stressed that the local authorities acted focused on effectively solving problems rather than creating obstacles, also underscoring the symbolic dimension of the move. The president of CIM Região de Coimbra stated that the presence of the academy and knowledge in the historic centre honours the legacy and name of Miguel Torga, uniting youth and scientific research with solving the challenges of society itself.
