Study at ISA
Testimonial from:
Tim, lead singer of Xutos & Pontapés rock band
I've attended ISA from 1979 till 1986, and graduated in Agricultural Engineering, in the field of Improvements. Always found that the buildings, gardens and farmland (right in the middle of Lisbon), the library and the labs where a whole, suitable for learning something with many options, many perspectives, many possible outcomes, with students being prepared to evaluate and decide in a responsible manner. It was a breakthrough to have this kind of freedom in learning, and took me a while to depart from the canonical way of teaching at secondary school and really understand to what I was braced with. With wise scholars and attentive deputies, and the teaching being set towards the understanding of related issues, I've produced several individual and team projects, exchanging life and cognitive experiences with people of different fields and status, from teacher to blacksmith.
From the days spent at ISA I've kept the work done with other students, to value other's standpoints, a wider insight of life and its intricacy and a mental attitude that coached me to face other kind of situations that, ultimately and with no doubt, helped my band to achieve what is today. To all of you I offer my gratitude.
Read Tim's full testimonial and other former students testimonials
Education and Research
The School of Agronomy (ISA) is, in Portugal, the largest and best qualified school for graduation and post-graduation in agricultural, zootechnical, forestry, food and environmental sciences and engineering, as well as landscape architecture and biology. Its scientific competence is widely acclaimed, either domestic or internationally, holding some of the best science records of all Portuguese universities. In many of these fields ISA leads domestic and international R&TD projects, with a growing number of registered patents, also incorporating at its campus an association for the shaping of scientific and technological sector businesses - INOVISA.
In the heart of Lisbon
Located in the middle of Lisbon, at Tapada da Ajuda, between Monsanto Hills and Alcântara, next to Calvário Square and side by side with 25th April Bridge, and close to the historical surroundings of Belem, ISA is considered an oasis in the city centre, where one, far from the city hassle, has the privilege to study and be in contact with nature. Its closeness facilitates the access to the, old and new city zones, vast offerings of cultural and social events, as well as the beautiful beaches at Caparica (across the river) and Estoril-Cascais coast. Some of the most well-known bar and club zones around town, such as Santos, Docas, Alcântara, can also be found nearby.
Tapada da Ajuda
ISA, in Tapada da Ajuda campus, is a forest, agricultural and botanical park of internationally accepted value, with around 1 sq. kilometre, where some rare species can be found, with a unique Botanical Reserve (Nature Botanical Reserve D. António Xavier Pereira Coutinho), an Exhibition Hall, the Stone Auditorium, magnificent gardens and the only vineyard in Lisbon. Named Alcântara Royal Park, by deed of King John IV, in 1645, served as hunting ground and recreational area for the royal family. In 1910 was handed over to ISA for the construction, from scratch, of the main building that was opened up in 1917.
ISA's Library
ISA's library, BISA, has been following teaching and research of Agrisciences in Portugal, since its establishment in 1853, in the reach of Lisbon Agricultural Institute, which allowed to gather and possess a vast, unique and ample bibliographical heritage. Broken up in 1911, with the breakdown of the agricultural and veterinary education into two schools, in 1919 set up in the 'royal floor' of the recently built ISA's block, from where it was transferred in 2000 to a brand new and modernistic building. At that time had a collection of 10000 volumes; nowadays has around 62500 and its database - Ceres - has records of more than 100000 entries.
Sports, Culture and Leisure
Besides the teaching component, ISA provides its students a whole set of cultural, sports and recreational activities, essential to strengthen their brotherhood ties, and sharing and support in scholastic issues. Tunas (musical groups), a theatrical group, the UTL choir, rugby and soccer are some of the areas that are prominent at ISA.
