The Minister of National Defense said this Wednesday the need for greater rapprochement between the Military University Institute and civilian higher education institutions, believing that strengthening these relations will bring “added value” to Portuguese society.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 2022/2023 academic year of the Institute of the Military University (IUM), which took place this Wednesday in Lisbon, Helena Carreiras stressed that with regard to military higher education, “the priority is clear”.
“It consists in assessing what is best done, thought and produced in this context, in expanding areas of knowledge that are of great importance and of interest to national defense,” he said.
According to the Minister, the assessment of military higher education “requires a multifaceted effort, which should include strengthening the relationship between the various academies, as well as with other higher education institutions” both in Portugal and abroad.
“Continued commitment to strengthening these ties will create added value for those who teach here, for those who study here and for Portuguese society as a whole,” he said.
Helena Carreiras also emphasized that the rapprochement between the IUM and civilian university institutions “should be seen as a necessary condition for the qualitative leap that is required from national defense in general and from military higher education in particular.”
“The links of constant dialogue and interaction that are desirable between the various organic divisions of the IUM, as well as between them and universities and civilian research centers, are necessary to meet the challenges facing the Armed Forces and the GNR,” he stressed.
The Minister of Defense also added that “more regular and more intensive cooperation with other higher education institutions could, in turn, help to improve the skills of the IUM teaching staff.”
“The human resources available at other institutions, with extensive training and certification provided in general subjects, can be especially helpful in strengthening the areas of interest of the various courses at IUM,” he said.
In addition to this approach to civilian higher education institutions, Helena Carreiras emphasized the need for “deeper relationships with civil society organizations and the business structure”.
“IUM and its organic divisions must maintain the proactive capacity to deepen bridges with the national industrial sector and thus, in an organic and regular way, stimulate the main directions of development that will be marked in the coming decades,” he believes.
According to the official, this in-depth engagement with the industrial sector “can and should include making full use of project funding opportunities from the European Union and NATO, as well as national scientific organizations, and exploring new partnerships” with the Technological Base. and the defense industry.
At this ceremony, which was also attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA) Admiral António Silva Ribeiro, the Minister of Defense also highlighted the “significant role” that the IUM played in “strengthening ties with the CPLP.” countries”.
“It is very important that this work be expanded and strengthened in the coming years, which shows the long-term commitment of Portugal to training personnel in these countries,” he stressed.
Addressing the cadets who listened to her, Helena Carreiras stressed that “the opening of the new academic year is a moment of renewal for educational institutions.”
“This is also a unique moment to reaffirm Portugal’s unwavering commitment to a high level of training and research that supports the actions of our senior officers and generals,” he stressed.
After the ceremony, Helena Carreiras made no statement to reporters, while on Monday a judicial police operation involving the Ministry of National Defense led to the arrest of five of the 19 defendants. , including three senior Defense Department officials.