The Viana do Castelo Polytechnic Institute (IPVC) [IPVC] was founded in 1980. Is a regional institution, whose aims are a qualified human, cultural, scientific, technical and professional training, to carry out necessary research to accomplish its mission and to cooperate with the regional community of Alto-Minho, particularly with its productive and entrepreneurial sectors.

The IPVC is made up of six Schools offering undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, these last very often in collaboration with national and international polytechnics and universities. Also promotes Master courses and specialization courses.

In January 2013, the Agency for the Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education [A3ES] certified the SGGQ-IPVC for a period of six years, making it the only Polytechnic in Portugal to have “this recognition” from A3ES. In February 2013, the IPVC was invited by the Portuguese Quality Institute (IPQ) to join the Sectorial Commission for Education and Training (CS/11), as part of the Portuguese Quality System (SPQ).

RD&T and Projects

One way in which the IPVC differentiates itself and consolidates itself is its constant focus on quality, both in terms of training and infrastructure, rather than simply growth. In addition to teaching/learning activities, which are its main objective, the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo also carries out, through its Higher Schools, other activities in the fields of research and development, providing services to the community, setting up national and international partnerships and other cultural activities.

The creation, in 2006, of the Technology, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Office is the most visible aspect of the enormous effort that IPVC is making to get closer to companies and the community in general. Despite its short existence, there are already numerous projects developed by this workshop, both national and international, many of which are coordinated by the IPVC.

These include coordinated international projects in the area of e-Learning, Optical Fiber or Innovation for Traditional Trade, as well as national projects in the area of Geographic Information Systems, Information and Communication Technologies, Ceramic Materials, fostering innovation for SMEs, among others.

It should be noted that in areas such as fiber optic networks or Geographic Information Systems, the IPVC has played a leading technological role, managing, for example, to create the first fiber optic network in a Portuguese city for non-commercial purposes and the most powerful cross-border Geographic Information System between Portugal and Spain.

Entrepreneurship is another area in which the IPVC is strongly committed. As well as taking an active part in Poliempreende, a competition that fosters entrepreneurship in Polytechnic Higher Education, IPVC participates in a technology-based incubator in Arcos de Valdevez together with its regional partners.